
















































Jacob wrestling with the Angel ....Genesis xxxii. 25 

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Paul preaching at Athens ....Acts xvii 7, 































































































































THE 


BIBLICAL READER; 

t - QR 

INTERESTING EXTRACTS 


** FROM 

THE SACRED SCRIPTURES ? 

t : WITH 

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, 

i 

AND 

QUESTIONS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF SCHOLARS 


FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS GENERALLY, AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 
IN PARTICULAR ; AND IS ALSO WELL CALCULATED 
FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. 


BY REV. if L. BLAKE, A. M. 

♦ * 

RECTOR OF ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH, AND PRINCIPAL OF k 
LITERARY SEMINARY, BOSTON, MASS. 

*> ' 


fe'.- 

» 


ORNAMENTED WITH CUTS. 


o » 

’) ) > 


BOS TO N t 


Printed and published by Lincoln edmands* 

No. 59 Washington-Street, (53 Cornhill.) 

„ 1826 . • 















district of Massachusetts, t»witi 

District Clerk'i Office- 

j ® E IT REMEMBERED, That on the second of February, A. D. 1826 in the 

d r t i ndeP 7 denCe of the United States of America, Lincoln & Edmands of the 
*aid drstnct, have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof thev claim 
as Proprietors, in the words following, to -wit ; >*neieor they claim 

treXaHonf'lm'l of.f Extra ' ts fr0m tbe Sacred Scri P tures » with Practical Ob. 
^d Sundav • f °- r , Examinatl0n of Scholars. For the use of Schools generally. 

ByRevILBLAKE Tm b 8 „ ""s’ ** 3,S ° WCl ‘ CaUu,ated for Individual « and Families, 
aiv li', m n Rector of St Matthew’s Church, and Principal of a Literary Semi¬ 
nary, Boston, Mass. Ornamented with cuts. ’ 

enJoufaBem^of^rp 116 ^' 1 ^ the . Con *«M ot the United States, entitled. “An Act for the 
“S tetoLf Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Chart, and Books, to the Authors 

^'An Act sunn emen ar C °r eS I'"* ^ V™* tberei " mentioned »” ™ d also to an Act entitled. 


V • DAVIS, Clerk of Ibe District if Xsuiaebuiett/* 


?V'i 


of 





PREFACE, 


It is a well known fact that many of the most interesting portions 
of the Bible are sometimes interspersed with catalogues of difficult 
names and subjects, not particularly suited for a Class Book in 
Schools, which evinces the propriety and utility of a compilation in 
which the parts not adapted to Schools may be omitted. The 
Biblical Reader is designed to accomplish this object, and to furnish 
our Schools with selections from the Sacred Volume, interesting and 
instructive to the rising generation, and also to revive in our Semina¬ 
ries the reading of the Holy Scriptures, which, of late years, has been 
too much neglected. And it is believed, that the use of this compila¬ 
tion, which presents a connected view of the beauties of divine truth— 
of the salutary precepts, friendly warnings, encouraging promises, and 
historical and biographical narratives, with which the Bible abounds, 
will increase a thirst in the young pupil, and indeed in every reader, 
to become more intimately acquainted with the whole inspired 
volume. 

The Biblical Reader, in addition to its use as a Class Book, is con¬ 
sidered particularly well calculated to be used in connexion with the 
devotional exercises of schools. For example, at the appointed hour 
for beginning the school, and before any studies or recitations are in¬ 
troduced, let one of the scholars read loud, distinctly, and reverently 
one of the following chapters; while one is thus reading, let all be in 
profound silence ; and to ensure the attention of the whole school to 
what is read, each one should be liable to be called on to answer the 
few questions which follow the chapter. The questions are intended 
for this purpose only. Were they intended to make scholars per¬ 
fectly familiar with what is read, they would have been more nume¬ 
rous. When the reading is finished, and the questions are answered, 
the Instructor should read impressively the practical observations 
.which succeed. Then may follow the devotional exercises. The 
same order is to be observed at the close of the school in the after¬ 
noon. And in schools where devotional exercises are not established, 
the t’.se of the Biblical Reader, as above mentioned, will be highly 





IV 


PREFACE. 


beneficial. The Compilerhas witnessed the most manifest good ef¬ 
fects from the reading of the Scriptures at the commencement of 
morning schools. It quiets that impetuosity of feeling, and the con¬ 
sequent tendency to bustle and disorder, which seem always to at¬ 
tend the first meeting together of a large number of young persons ; 
and, iu doing this, it prepares their minds for the regular business of 
study and recitation. 




It is known that youth and even children may acquire the 
habit of making reflections when they read, and consequently 
of receiving the moral impressions which should always be made 
when the scriptures are read. The Practical Observations, scat^ 
tered through the Biblical Header, are intended to lead to this habit. 
These observations generally relate to a single one, or only to a few 
of the matters contained in the chapters with which they are several¬ 
ly connected. The most of them are selected from Commentators of 
acknowledged talents and piety. It may possibly be thought that in 
some of them there is not that simplicity of style desirable for young 
persons. The Compiler is aw are of this ; but had he moulded them 
all into his own phraseology, they would have appeared monotonous. - 
The plan of this volume was formed several years since ; but 
srom wemv 9?tl|e execution has been delayed to the present 
period. Becoming, however, more and more convinced of the 
excellency of the plan, and encouraged by the favourable notice 
liis other publications on education have received, he has been 
induced to carry the design into effect. And never was he 
so fully sensible how much that is interesting, is contained in 
the Bible, till making this selection. 


The Biblical Reader being designed fer schools, it was the aim of 
the Compiler, in the Practical Observations, to avoid whatever allu¬ 
sions or expressions might wound the feelings of serious people of the 
various religious denominations ; and as all professing Christians 
would probably be willing to give much the same practical , moral and 
religious instruction to their children, there seemed no necessity for 
a different course. 

":fw 


Boston. Feb. 1, 1826. 


J. L. BLAKE 



SHtfHODUrCTEOir, 


I he subjects of the Books of the Old Testament are truly won- 
certul and striking, and of such a nature as to surpass all monuments? 
of profane learning, equally in importance as in antiquity. And of 
all the parts which compose the sacred canon, none are more curious 
than trencsis , the first book written by Moses ; because it contains 
a sketch of the earliest history of mankind. Theie stand recorded' 
the creation of the world and its inhabitants, the fall of our first 
parents from their state of innocence and happiness, and their ban¬ 
ishment from the garden of Eden ; the repeated and signal promises 
of a future Restorer of the lost blessings of mankind; the history of 
the Patriarchs, honoured by the Revelations of Jehovah; the de¬ 
scription of the general deluge ; the dispersion of the progenitors of 
the human race over all the earth ; the adoption of a particular fam¬ 
ily to perpetuate the remembrance, and establish the worship of the 
true God, and their prosperous settlement in Egypt. 

In the sacred books ofthe Jews is recorded an account of the descend¬ 
ants of Israel; a race of men selected from all others, and favoured 
with successive relations of the divine will. Here are shown the in¬ 
stances of their infidelity, perverseness, and disobedience; their glo¬ 
ry, and triumphs ; their disgraces, and their subjection to foreign 
powers. Hero is seen the superintendance of a divine and especial 
Providence watching over innocence, suspending wrath, and taking 
the most signal vengeance upon unrepented offences. Here are de¬ 
veloped the failings of the most virtuous persons, and the obdurate 
wickedness of confirmed sinners. Here are displayed the mixed 
characters even of the most excellent men, the eminent examples of 
faith and piety, of courage and patience, in the conduct of Abraham, 
Lot, Job, Joseph, Moses, David, Hezekiak, Josiah, and Daniel. And 
most interesting is it to observe, that the knowledge of the one true 
God was communicated to this people, and preserved by them 
alone ; that they had the most sublime ideas of ids nature and attri¬ 
butes ; that a magnificent temple was erected to his honour ; a reg¬ 
ular service was instituted ; holy ceremonies were performed ; an 
order of priests of one particular family was consecrated ; a pure 
worship was established by his express command, and regulated by 
his particular laws. Thus were the Jews enlightened by a knowl¬ 
edge ofthe true object of divine worship ; and thus were thepurity and 
holiness of their religious ordinances conducted at a time, when all 
other nations presented a wide scene of gross superstition and men¬ 
tal darkness; when the rest of the human race, and even the most 
intelligent and polished nations of Egypt and Greece, showed the most 
abject degradation of their nature, by prostrating themselves before 
idols oftheir own workmanship ; and abused the evidence of sense, 
and the faculty of reason, by imputing to wood and stone the attri¬ 
butes of divine power. 

We see likewise a succession of prophets raised up among them, 
to communicate the divine will, to warn them of evils, and to an¬ 
nounce to them blessings to come. These holy men executed 
their sacred commissions, unawed by the threats of kings, or thp re¬ 
sentment ofthe people. They foretold remote events in times when 
Jhey appeared most improbable ever to take place, and when no lut- 






VI 


INTRODUCTION. 


man foresight, and no calculation of chances, could guide them to 
tile discovery of the particular affairs, which fulfilled their predic¬ 
tions. Moses, in a long and most interesting detail of threats and 
promises, foretold the exact manner in which his people were or¬ 
dained to be happy or miserable, according as they followed or diso¬ 
beyed the divine laws. At a subsequent period, when Jerusalem w as 
laid in ruins, and the Jews were groaning under the sorrows of the 
Babylonish captivity, Isiiah solemnly addressed Cyrus by bis name, 
more than a hundred years before his birth, as the deliverer of Israel, 
and the new founder of the Holy City. When Babylon was shining 
in the meridian of her glory, and its monarchs ruled over all the na¬ 
tions of the East with the most uncontrolled sway, the same Proph¬ 
et predicted the total subversion of their empire, and the complete 
desolation of their vast metropolis. That all these and numerous 
other predictions were exactly verified by the events, are truths con¬ 
firmed by the evidence of profane, as well as sacred history. The 
same inspired Prophets had a much more grand and important ob¬ 
ject in view, than to declare the future dispensations of Providence 
to one nation in particular ; for they announced in terms, at first dark 
and mysterious, but progressively more clear and circumstantial, the 
future birth of a Messiah, a glorious King, a divine Legislator, who 
was to abolish the sacrifices and religious institutions of the Jews, 
and proclaim and establish a general Law, for the observance and 
happiness of all mankind. Here the Evangelists contribute their aid 
to illustrate the declarations of the Piophets, and unite the history of 
the Old with that of the New Testament in the most close and indis¬ 
soluble bonds of union. 

The historical books of Scripture, considered from the giving of 
the Law to Moses, to the reformation in the worship and government 
by Nehemiah, after the Babylonish captivity, contain a summary ac¬ 
count of the Jewish affairs for a period of eleven centuries. They 
were evidently not intended to give a complete detail of national 
transactions, as their writers had a more sublimp and important end 
in view. To illustrate the prophecies, by /feinting circumstances- 
which existed at the time when they were -Uttered, and to show their 
accomplishment; to record varmus-rerelations of the Divine will, 
and to describe the state of religion among the Hebrews, and the 
various dispensations of Providence in public as well as in private 
occurrences, seem to have been their chief objects. Hence it is that 
the chain of history is sometimes broken into detached parts, and its 
detail is interrupted by a recital of private transactions. The books 
of Scripture occasionally assume the form, and comprise the beauties 
of a very interesting kind of biography. Of this nature are the several 
accounts of Job, Ruth, and Esther; but they are far from being un¬ 
connected with the principal design of the sacred writers; inasmuch 
as they show that the same divine Providence which presided over 
the nation at large, extended its particular care to individuals, and 
that the examples of private virtue were insepaiable from the great 
interests of public welfare and happiness. 

The Israelites, for many ages, separated from the rest of mankind 
by their peculiar institutions, were little acquainted with commerce, 
and made small advances in those arts, which with a refinement, 
and a diversity of employments, introduced luxury and corruption of 
manners. They were governed by equal laws, and possessed nearly 
equal property. They admitted no hereditary distinction of rank, 
except in favour of the regal tribe of Judah, and the sacerdotal lain- 


INTRODUCTION. 


Vll 


vly of Levi. Their occupations from the earliest times were of the 
most simple kind, and consisted in pasturage nV)d agriculture. To 
guide the plough, and tend the flock, were employments which, re¬ 
commended by length of time, were exercised by kings, prophets, 
and generals* Moses was called from feeding his flock, to conduct 
the Israelites to the promised land ; Elisha forsook the plough, to be 
invested with the mantle of prophecy ; and Gideon left the thresh¬ 
ing-floor, to lead the army of his country to batde. 

The country of Judea presented a scene diversified by fruitful val¬ 
ues, barren rocks, and lofty mountains, and was watered by numer¬ 
ous streams. It produced the palm-tree, the balsam, the vine, the 
olive, the fig, and all the fruits which abound in the East. From the 
labours of the field, and from cultivating the vine, the attention of 
the Israelites was regularly called by religious w’orship, which was 
intimately blended with the civil constitution of the state. The 
splendour of their public services, the pomp and magnificence of 
their rites and ceremonies, the stated recurrence of their various fes¬ 
tivals and sacrifices, the sabbath, the paesover, the celebration of the 
sabbatical year ; and the jubilee ; and more than all, the constant 
experience of divine interposition, filled their minds with the most 
awful and grand ideas, and gave them the deepest impressions of the 
majesty, power, goodness, and justice of God. 

These were the circumstances, which, combining to form their 
national manners, had the greatest influence upon their writings. 
The historical style is marked by the purest simplicity of ideas, occa¬ 
sionally raised to a tone of elevation. In the w'orks of Moses there 
is a majesty of thought, which is most strikingly expressed in plain 
and energetic language. In the prophetical -writings, the greatest 
splendour and sublimity of composition are conspicuous. They are 
enriched by those glowing images, and raised by that grandeur of 
diction, which charm the classical reader in the most admired pro¬ 
ductions of Greece and Rome. The Royal Psalmist is eloquent, 
dignified, and pathetic. All the beauties of composition unite in 
Isaiah, such is the majesty of his ideas, the propriety, beauty, and 
fertility of his imagery, and the elegance of his language, employed 
upon the noblest subjects which could possibly engage our attention. 
Jeremiah excels in those expressions of tenderness, which excite 
with the most pleasing enthusiasm the feelings of compassion. 

By such peculiar beauties of composition are recommended the 
most interesting details of events and the most faithful delineations 
of characters. The great Creator calls all things into existence with 
his omnipotent word. The first parents of mankind, innocent and 
happy, are blessed with his immediate converse, and enjoy the 
blooming groves of Paradise. Joseph, the pious, the chaste, and 
the wise, after having undergone great afflictions, and rising by his 
own extraordinary merit to an office of the highest honour in the court 
of Pharaoh, discovers himself in a manner the most pathetic to his 
repentant brethren, and is restored to his aged and affectionate father, 
whom he invites into Egypt to share his prosperity. The Children 
of Israel, guided by the divine Power, which veils its glory in a 
cloud, pass safely through the Red Sea, in which the hosts of the 
impious Pharaoh are overwhelmed. Upon the lofty summit of 
Mount Sinai, Moses receives the two tables of the Commandments, 
amid the thunder, lightning, clouds and darkness, which obscure the 
great Jehovah from his eyes. "The royal Psalmist sings the wondere 
-o£ creation, the powers of his God, and his own defeats and tri- 


VI11 


INTRODUCTION. 


umphs. The peaceful and prosperous Solomon, whose renown was 
extended over all the East, rears the structure of the magnificent 
Temple ; and amid the multitudes of his adoring subjects conse¬ 
crates it to the service of the one true God, in a prayer which equally 
attests his wisdom and piety. In the visions of futurity, Isaiah be¬ 
holds the deliverance of the chosen People; the complete destruc¬ 
tion of the great empire of Babylon, by which they were enslaved; 
and the promised Messiah, the Saviour of Mankind, sometimes de¬ 
pressed by want and sorrow, and sometimes arrayed in the emblems 
of divine majesty and power. He predicts the final recal of the 
Jews to their native land, and the wide diffusion of the Christian 
faith. Jeremiah sinks a weeping mourner over the ruins of his na¬ 
tive city, deplores its calamities, and consoles his countrymen by 
expressly declaring, that they should never cease to be a nation to 
the end of the world. Daniel explains to Belshazzar the mystic 
characters inscribed upon the walls of his palace, and views in his 
wide prospect of future times, the fates of the four great empires of ' 
the world. Cyrus, long before announced by Isaiah as the great sub- 
verter of the Babylonish empire, and the restorer of the glory of Je¬ 
rusalem, publishes his decree for the restoration of the captive 
Jews: and the holy City and Temple rise from their ruins with new 
grandeur and magnificence. The Jews are settled and reformed by 
the pious care of Nehemiah, and the canon of the Scriptures is closed 
by Malachi. This last of the prophets enjoins the strict observance 
of the Law of Moses, till the great Precursor should appear, in the 
spirit of Elias, to announce the approach of the Messiah, who was to 
establish a new and everlasting covenant. 

In these volumes of sacred history there is an impartiality of nar¬ 
rative, which is an undoubted characteristic of truth. If we read the 
Lives of Plutarch, or the History of Livy, we soon discover that these 
waiters composed their works under the influence of many prejudices 
in favour of their respective countries. A veil is throw n over the de¬ 
fects of their heroes, but tlreir virtues are placed in a strong light, and 
painted in vivid colours. In the Scriptures, on the contrary, both 
of the Old and New Testament, the strictest impartiality prevails. 
The vices of David, Solomon, and their successors, are neither con¬ 
cealed nor palliated. There is no ostentation of vanity, no parade 
of panegyric ; virtue charms with her native beauty, and vice ac¬ 
quires no disguise to conceal her deformity. The characters of per¬ 
sons are sketched, and the effects of the passions are represented 
without reserve or concealment; and the moral to be drawn from 
each description is so obvious, as to account for the frequent omis¬ 
sion of remarks and applications. The abject condition of the Jews, 
when prohibited the use of weapons of war by the victorious Philis¬ 
tines; theii relapses into idolatry, their perverseness of disposition, 
and their various defects and captivities, with every circumstance of 
private and public disgrace, are recorded without palliation or reserve. 

To peruse the Holy Scriptures is one of the first employments of 
childhood. And it will be found, as life is verging towards its close, 
when every other book begins to be insipid and uninteresting, that 
the Holy Bibi.f., which includes the most ancient records of time, 
the clearest evidences of a divine revelation, and the joyful promises 
of eternal happiness, will attract us more and more, as old age 
advances, and will afford us that divine solace and inexpressible sat¬ 
isfaction which no other writings can give. Selected . 



THE 


• 

jPJ 





CHAPTER I. 

The History of the Creation. From the first and second 
Chapters of Genesis. B. C. 4004. 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the 
earth. And the earth was without form, and void ; and 
darkness was upon the face of the deep : and the Spirit 
of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God 
said, Let there be light: and there was light. And 
God saw the light that it was good : and God divided the 
light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, 
and the darkness he called"Night : and the evening and 
the morning were the first day. 

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst 
of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the 
waters. And God made the firmament; and divided 
the waters which were under the firmament from the 
waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 
And God called the firmament Heaven : and the evening 
and the morning were the second day. 

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be 
gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land 
appear : and it was so. And God called the dry land 
Earth ; and the gathering together of the waters called 
he Seas : and God saw that it was good. And God said, 
Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, 
and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose 
seed is in itself, upon the earth : and it was so. And 
the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed 
after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed 
was in itself, after his kind : and God saw that it was 
a-ood. And the evening and the morning were the third 








14 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of 
the heaven, to divide the day from the night : and let 
them be for signs, and tor seasons, and for days, and 
years. And let them be for lights in the firmament of 
the heaven, to give light upon the earth : and it was so. 
And God made two great lights ; the greater light to 
rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night : he 
made the stars also. And God set them in the firma¬ 
ment of the heaven, to give light upon the earth : And to 
rule over the day, and over the night, and to divide the 
light from the darkness : And God saw that it was good. 
And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly 
the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may 
fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 
And God created great whales, and every living creature 
that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly 
after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind ; 
and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, 
saying, be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in 
the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the 
evening and the morning were the fifth day. 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living 
creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and 
beast of the earth after his kind : and it was so. And 
God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle 
after their kind, and e?ery thing that creepeth upon the 
earth after his kind : and God saw that it was good. 

And God said, Let us make man in our image, aftei 
our likeness : and let them have dominion over the fish 
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the 
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping 
thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man 
in his own image, in the image of God created hp him ; 
male and female created he them. And God blessed 
them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, 
and replenish the earth, and subdue it : and have do¬ 
minion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the 
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the 
earth. 

And God said, Behold I have given you every herb 
bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and 
every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed : 
to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the I 
earth, and to every fowl of the air, and "to every thing | 
that creepeth upon the eaarth, wherein there is life, I have l 












THE BIBLICAL READER. 


15 


given every green herb for meat : and it was so. And 
God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it 
was very good. And the evening and the morning were 
the sixth day. 

Thus the heavens and the*earth were finished, and all 
the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended 
his work which he had made $ and he rested on the 
seventh day, from all his work which he had made ; and 
God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it : because 
that in it he had rested from all his work which God cre¬ 
ated and made. 

QUESTIONS. 

What part of the croaiion was effected the first day ?-What 

part on tlie second day ?-What part on the third day ?-What 

part on the fourth P-What part on the fifth ?-What part on the 

sixth r-What took place on the seventh day ? 


Practical Observations. 

We are here taught the first truth in religion, viz. that there is a 
God who created the world and all things that are therein ; that it is 
lie who has given to all creatures the nature and qualities that belong 
to them ; and that by his will the world subsists in that admirable 
order which we observe it. But what we chiefly learn from the his¬ 
tory of the creation is, that God made man after his own image ; 
that he gave him dominion over all other creatures, and endued him 
with a spiritual and immortal soul, capable of knowing and loving 
his Creator ; and, therefore, it is our duty to acknowledge and adore 
the power, majesty, and wisdom of God, which are so manifest in all 
his works ; to celebrate his goodness towards us, and continually to 
render him the thanks, love, and obedience, which arc so justly due 
to him. 


CHAP. II. 

Man placed in Paradise. From the second Chapter of 

Genesis. B. C. 4001. 

These are the generations of the heavens and of the 
earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord 
God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of 
the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the 
field before it grew : for the Lord God had not caused it 
to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the 
ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and 
watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord 
God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed 
into his nostrils the breath of life 5 and man became a 
living soul. 











16 


THE BIBLICAL READER/ 

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward m 
Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 
And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every 
tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food , the 
tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree 
of knowledge of good and evil. 

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the 

f arden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. And the 
iord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of 
the garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of 
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: 
for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely 
die. And the Lord God said, It is not good that the 
man should be alone : I will make him an help meet for 
him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every 
beast of the field, and every fowl of the air, and brought 
them unto Adam, to see what he would call them ; and 
whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was 
the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, 
and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field : 
but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon 
Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and 
closed up the flesh instead thereof ; and the rib, which 
the Lord God had taken from man, made he a 
woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam 
said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my 
flesh : she shall be called Woman, because she was taken 
out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and 
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife : and they shall 
be one flesh. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is said of the creation of man P-Under what prohibitions 

was Adam placed in Paradise ?-Of what had he permission to 

eat ?-How was woman formed ? 


Practical Observations. 

God placed Adam in paradise that he might be happy ; but, to 
make trial of his obedience, at the same time gave him a law attend¬ 
ed with severe threatening^ j forbidding him, upon pain of death, to 
eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In this 
proceeding of the Almighty, we see the great goodness of God 
towards man in his state of innocence ; but we see, likewise, that 
man could not be independent, that he was obliged to submit to the 
laws ofhis Creator, and that by his obedience alone, he was entitled 
to the effects of divine love. 








VflE BIBLICAL READER. 


17 


CHAP. III. 

Adam’s Transgression. From the third Chapter of Gen¬ 
esis. B. C. 4004. 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the 
field which the Lord God had made : and he said unto 
the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every 
tree of the garden ? And the woman said unto the ser¬ 
pent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden : 
but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the 
garden, God hath said. Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall 
ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the 
woman, Ye shall not surely die : for God doth know, that 
in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened: 
and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And 
when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and 
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired 
to make one wise $ she took of the fruit thereof, and did 
eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did 
eat. And the eyes of them both were opened. And 
they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the gar¬ 
den in the cool of the day : and Adam and his wife hid 
themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst 
the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unta 
Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou ? And he 
said, I heard thy voice in the garden : and I was afraid 5 
and I hid myself. And he said, Hast thou eaten of the 
tree whereof I commanded thee, that thou shouldest not 
eat ? And the man said, The woman, whom thou gavest 
to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 

And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this 
that thou hast done ? And the woman said, The serpent 
beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto 
the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed 
above all cattle, and above every beast of the field : and 
dust shalt thou eat ail the days of thy life : And I will 
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between 
thy seed and her seed : it shall bruise thy head, and thou 
shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, la sor¬ 
row thou shalt bring forth children : and thy desire shall 
be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened 
unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of 
which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of 
it: cursed is the ground for thy sake 5 in sorrow shalt 

B 2 


18 


THE BIBLICAL RfcADEfc* 


thou eat ot it all the days ot thy life ; thorns also and 
thistles shall it bring forth to thee ; and thou shalt eat the 
herb of the field : In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat 
bread, till thou return unto the ground ; for out of it wast 
thou taken : for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou 
return. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because 
she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and 
to his wife did the Lord God make coats ot skins, and 
clothed them. 

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become a& 
one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put 
forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, 
and live forever : Therefore the Lord God sent him forth 
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence 
he was taken. So he drove out the man : and he placed 
at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming 
sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the 
tree of life. 

QUESTIONS. 

By what means were our first parents induced to disobey God and 

eat of the forbidden fruit P-Why did God drive them out of the 

garden after their transgression ?-How were they prevented from 

returning into it ?-Wliy was Adam’s wife called Eve ? 

' 


Practical Observations. 

This account of Adam’s sin was committed to writing, that it 
might appear that God is not the author of sin, but that man fell into* 
it wilfully, and through his own fault. We learn likewise, from the 
fall of our first parents, how dangerous it is to disbelieve what God 
has declared, to give ear to temptations, and to follow the desires of 
the flesh ; and with how much care we ought to watch over ourselves, 
obedient in all things to the laws of the Lord, even in those things 
that appear to be of the least importance. We may also learn from 
what happened to Adam and Eve after their sin, and the punishment 
that God inflicted on them, in making them subject to the miseries 
of this life, and to death itself, and driving them out of the garden of 
Eden, that the divine threatenings are never in vain, and that God 
cannot suffer man’s disobedience to go unpunished. But the good¬ 
ness of God, at the same time, appeared in the promise, that “ the 
seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head j” the meaning 
of this was, that God would deliver men from sin and death, which 
were entered into the world by the seducement of the devil. Let us 
bless God for fidfilling this promise, by sending Jesus Christ into the 
world to destroy the works of the devil, and to procure his people 
an admission into the heavenly paradise, where he has prepared 
for them happiness that shall never endr 







THE BIBLICAL READER* 


19 


CHAP. IV. 

History of Cain and Abel. From the fourth Chapter of 
Genesis . A. M. 2.—B. C. 4003 . 

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Abel 
was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

A. M. 129 ^nd * n P rocess °f time if came to pass, 

B*C * 3875 * that ^am brought of the fruit of the 

ground an offering unto the Lord. And 
Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of 
the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, 
and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he 
had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his 
countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art 
thou wroth r and why is thy countenance fallen ? If thou 
doest well, shalt thou not be accepted ? and if thou doest 
not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be 
his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked 
with Abel his brother ; and it came to pass when they were 
in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, 
and slew him. 

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy 
brother P And he said, I know not: Am T my brother’s 
keeper ? And he said, What hast thou done ? the voice 
of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath 
opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy 
hand ; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not hence¬ 
forth yield unto thee her strength : A fugitive and a vag¬ 
abond shalt thou be in the earth. 

And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater 
than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this 
day from the face of the earth ; and from thy face shall I 
be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the 
earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that 
findeth me shall slay me. And the Lord said unto him, 
Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be 
taken on him seven fold. And the Lord set a mark upon 
Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 

QUESTIONS. 

What were the occupations of Cain and Abel ?-What caused 

Cain to be offended with Abel ?-What was the punishment 

threatened upon Cain for killing his brother? 

Practical Observations. 

Let every Christian take care, that he fall not after the similitude 
of this transgression. It is a determined case, that “ whosoever- 




20 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


hateth his brother is a murderer”—it is an unquestionable truth, that 
he who envietk his brother will soon hate him—and it is no less cer¬ 
tain, that “ the spirit that dweileth in us, Iusteth to envy.” IIow 
earnestly and fervently then ought we to pray, that 11 from envy, I 
hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,” God would “ deliver 
us!” 

Though God doth not, in the present age of the world, discover 
himself in so astonishing a manner as formerly, still he is not uncon¬ 
cerned in human affairs. Those crimes of men, which are commit- | 
ted with the utmost secrecy, are generally brought to light by the con¬ 
duct of Providence. Sin will either discover itself or be discovered. I 
The blood of an Abel will cry from the earth—an almighty ven¬ 
geance will pursue the murderer. 


CHAP. V. 

History of the Deluge. From the sixth , seventh , and 
eighth Chapters of Genesis. A. M. 1536.—B.C. 2468. 

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great 
in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts 
of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented 
the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it griev¬ 
ed him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy 
man whom 1 have created from the face of the earth, both 
man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of 
the air ; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But 
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 

These are the generations of Noah ; Noah was a just 
man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked 
with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and 
Ja'pheth. The earth also was corrupt before God ; and 
the earth was filled with violence. And God looked 
upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt: for all flesh 
had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said 
unto Noaii, The end of all flesh is come before me ; for 
the earth is filled with violence through them : and be¬ 
hold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an 
ark of gopher-wood : for behold, I, even I, do bring a 
flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, where¬ 
in is the breath of life, from under heaven : and every 
thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I 
establish my covenant: and thou shalt come into the ark, 
thou, and thy sons and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives 
with thee. . And of every living thing of all flesh, two of 
every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them 
alive with thee : they shall be male and female. And 
take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


21 

slialt gather it to thee ; and it shall be for food for thee, 
and for them. Thus did Noah 5 according to all that God 
commanded him, so did he. 

A. M 1656 And the ^ord said unto Noah, Come 

B. C. ^ 348 * thou an( l all thy house into the ark : for 

thee have 1 seen righteous before me 
in this generation. For jet seven days, and I will 
cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights : 
and every living substance that I have made will 1 des¬ 
troy from off the face of the earth. And Noah went in, 
and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, 
into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean 
beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls and of 
every thing that creepeth upon the earth, there went in two 
and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, 
as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass, af¬ 
terseven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the 
earth. 

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second 
month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day 
were ail the fountains of the great deep broken up, and 
the windows of heaven were opened. And the flood was 
forty days upon the earth : and the waters increased, and 
bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. 
And the waters prevailed,and were increased greatly up¬ 
on the earth': and the ark went upon the face of the 
waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the 
earth : and all the high hills that were under the whole 
heaven were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the wa¬ 
ters prevail : and the mountains were covered. 

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of 
fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and ol every creeping 
thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man : All 
in whose nostrils was the breath of lile, of all that was 
in the dry land, died. And every living substance was 
destroyed which was upon the face ot the ground, both 
man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl ot 
the heaven ; and they were destroyed from the earth 5 
and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with 
him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the 
earth an hundred and fifty days. 

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and 
all the cattle that was with him in the ark $ and God made 
a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged; 
the fountains also of the deep, and the windows of 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 




heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was re¬ 
strained 5 and the waters returned from oft’ the earth 
continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty 
days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in 
the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, 
upon the mountains of Ar'arat. And the waters decreas¬ 
ed continually, until the tenth month : in the tenth 
month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of 
dhe mountains seen. 

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that No¬ 
ah opened the window of the ark which he had made 
Andhe sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until 
the waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he 
sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abat¬ 
ed from off the face of the ground : But the dove found 
no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto 
him into the ark ; for the waters were on the face of the 
whole earth. Then he put forth his hand, and took her, 
and pulled her in unto him into the ark. And lie stayed 
yet other seven days, and again lie sent forth the dove out 
of the ark ; and the dove came in to him in the evening, 
and lo, in her mouth was an olive-leaf pluckt olf: So 
Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 
And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the 
dove ; which returned not again unto him any more. 

A And it came to pass in the six hun- 

W r p04-r* dredth and first year, in the first month. 
~ * the first day of the month, the waters 

w ere dried up from off the earth and Noah removed the 
covering of the ark, and lookeel, and behold the face o; 
the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the 
seven and twentieth day of the month, was the eartl 
dried. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, 
and his sons’wives, with him: Every beast, every creep¬ 
ing thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upoi: 
the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. 

And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took ol 
every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered 
burnt-offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a 
sweet savour ; and the Lord said in his heart, I will nol 
again curse the ground any more for man’s sake ,* for the 
imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth : neither 
will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have 
done. While the earth remaineth, seed-time and har¬ 
vest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day 
and night, shall not cease. 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


QUESTIONS. 

Who were the three sons of Noah ?-Whom did Noah take into 

the ark with him ?-How high did the waters rise?-How lon«- 

after it began to rain before the floods began to abate ? 


Practical Observations. 

The history of the flood is the most signal example God has given 
of his justice since the creation of the world. It is ; too, a most cer¬ 
tain fact; the remembrance of which has been preserved among all 
nations, and in the most ancient authors, as well as in the holy Scrip¬ 
tures. St. Peter teaches us the use we ought to make of this history, 
when he says, “ If God spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the 
eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon 
the world of the ungodly ; the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly 
out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment 
to be punished.” Let us seriously reflect upon this great example ; 
let us learn from hence, that God is just, and that his threatenings 
are not in vain. Moreover, let us consider, that as they who were 
not in the ark perished ; those who shall neglect to enter into the wav 
of salvation, and to lay hold of the long suffering of God, shall also 
inevitably perish. This is what our Saviour warns us of in his Gos¬ 
pel, when he says, that it will be at the day of his coming, as in the 
days of Noah when the inhabitants of the first world lived in secu¬ 
rity, and thought nothing of the flood, till it came upon them, and de¬ 
stroyed them all. Thus will sinners be surprised at the coming of 
Jesus Christ to judge^thc world, and render to all men according to 
their works. 

CHAP. VI. 

Murder forbidden, and God’s Covenant with Noah. From 

the ninth Chapter of Genesis. A. M. 1657.'—B.C. 2347. 

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto 
them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon 
every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, 
upon all that movetli upon the earth, and upon all the 
fishes of the sea ; into your hand are they delivered. Ev- 
erv moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you ; even 
as"the green herb have I given you all things : But flesh 
with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye 
not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will Ire- 
quire : at the hand of every beast will I require it ; and 
at the hand of man, at the hand of every man’s brother 
will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s 
blood, by man shall his blood be shed : for in the image 
of God made he man. 

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, 
saying, And I, behold I, establish my covenant with you, 







24 THE BIBLICAL READER. 

and with your seed after you ; and with every living 
creature that is with you. Neither shall all flesh be cut 
off any more by the waters of a flood ; neither shall there 
any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which 
I make between me and you, and every living creature that 
is with you, for perpetual generations. I do set my bow in 
the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between 
me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I 
bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen 
in the cloud : And I will remember my covenant, which 
is between me and you and every living creature of all 
flesh 5 and the waters shall no more become a flood to 
destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud ; 
and I will look upon it, that I may remember the ever¬ 
lasting covenant between God and every living creature 
of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto 
Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have 
established between me and all flesh that is upon the 
earth. 

QUESTIONS. 

What permission was given man after the flood, relating to his 

food ?-What injunction was then given concerning the shedding 

of blood ?-What did God appoint as a sign of his covenant that he 

would no more destroy the world by a flood of waters ? 


Practical Observations. 

Before the flood, man was permitted to use for food, the fruits of 
the earth only ; but God now grants him permission to eat of all 
living creatures, as he formerly had done of all the fruits of the garden. 
The covenant which God made with Noah, at this time, no more 
to destroy the world by a flood of waters, still remains good. The 
Almighty did not, however, “ set his bow in the clouds” for his own 
sake, to engage his attention, and revive his memory whenever “ he 
looked on itthough that be the expression which the Holy Spirit, 
speaking after the manner of men, has thought fit to make use of— 
but for our sakes was it placed there, as an illustrious symbol of the di¬ 
vine mercy and goodness, and to confirm our belief and confidence in 
God. And therefore, whenever we “ look upon the rain-bow,” we 
should do well to “ praise him who made it ; very beautiful it is in 
the brightness thereof. It compasseth the heavens about with a glo¬ 
rious circle, and the hands of the Most High have bended it.” 


CIIAP. VII. 

Confusion of Tongues at Babel. From the eleventh Chan¬ 
ter of Genesis. A. M. 1747.—B. C. 224 7. 

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one 
speech. And it came to pass as they journeyed from the 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


25 


east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and 
they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, 
let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they 
had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And 
they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, 
whose top may reach unto heaven ; and let us make us a 
name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the 
whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city 
and the tower, which the children of men budded. 

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and 
they have all one language : and this they begin to do : 
and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they 
have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there 
confound their language, that they may not understand 
one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad 
from thence upon the face of all the earth : and they left 
olf to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called 
Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language 
of all the earth : and from thence did the Lord scatter 
them abroad upon the face of all the earth. 


QUESTIONS. 

What reason induced the descendants of Noah to build the tower 

of Babel ?-What took place in their language when building it ? 

-Why was the place called Babel ? 

Practical Observations. 

There have been various conjectures concerning the purpose for 
which this tower was built. Some suppose it was intended to pre¬ 
vent the effects of another flood, by affording an asylum to the build¬ 
ers and their families, in case of another general deluge. Others 
think that it was designed to be a grand city, the seat of government, 
in order to prevent a general dispersion. This God would not per¬ 
mit, as he had purposed that men should be dispersed over the earth ; 
and therefore caused the means which they were using to prevent it, 
to become the grand instrument of its accomplishment. Humanly 
speaking, the earth would not have been so speedily peopled, had it 
not been for this very circumstance, which the counsel of man had 
devised to prevent it. 

CHAP. VIII. 

God’s Call of Abram, and his Journey into Egypt. From 
the twelfth Chapter of Genesis. A.M. 2083.—B.C. 1921. 

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of 
thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s 
house, unto a land that I will show thee : and I will 
make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and 








26 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


make thy name great 5 and thou shalt be a blessing : and 
I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that 
curseth thee: and in thee shall all families ol the 
earth be blessed. 

So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him, 
and Lot went with him : and Abram was seventy and 
five years old when he departed out of Iiaran. And 
Abram took Sa'rai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, 
and all their substance that they had gathered, and the 
souls that they had gotten in Haran 5 and they went 
orth to go into the land of Canaan $ and into the land ol 
Canaan they came. 

And there was a famine in the land: 
and Abram went down into Egypt to so¬ 
journ there ; for the famine was grievous 


A. M. 2084. 

B. C. 1920. 


in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come 


near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sa'rai his w ife, 
Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look 
upon : Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyp¬ 
tians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife : 
and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, 
I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with 
me for thy sake ; and my soul shall live because of thee. 

And it came to pass, that when Abram was come into 
Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she w r as 
very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and 
commended her before Pharaoh : and the woman was 
taken into Pharaoh’s house. And he entreated Abram 
well for her sake : and he had sheep, and oxen, and men- 
servants, and maid-servants, and camels. And the Lord 
plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because 
of Sa'rai Abram’s wife. 

And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this 
that thou hast done unto me ? why didst thou not tell 
me that she w^as thy wife P Why saidst thou, She is my 
sister P so I might have taken her to me to wife : now 
therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy w ay. 
And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him : and 
they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. 




QUESTIONS. 

What direction did Abram receive from the Lord, mentioned in 

this chapter ? ■ ■ At what age did he depart from Haran .-W hat 

induced him to go to Egypt ?-W hat measure did he adopt to save 

his own life, when among the Egyptians ? 


THE BIBLICAL READER, 


27 


Practical Observations. 

God called Abram and made a covenant with him, in order to pre¬ 
serve the true religion among his posterity, from which the Messiah 
was one day to descend. We are informed, that Abram obeyed the 
calling of God, believing in his promises, though they were not im¬ 
mediately accomplished ; that he was exposed to several troubles ; 
that he dwelt in the land of Canaan as a stranger, and was forced by 
famine to go into Egypt, where he had like to have lost his wife.— 
Let us learn then, after this patriarch, to obey with cheerfulness the 
commands of God, how difficult soever they may appear to us ; to 
live like strangers in this world, and not to seek our true country 
here, but in heaven; waiting, like our father Abram, for that city 
which is to come, whose builder and maker is God. 


CHAP. IX. 


Separation of Abram from Lot . From the thirteenth 

Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1918. 

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, 
and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 
And Lot also had flocks, and herds, and tents. And 
the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell 
together : for their substance was great, so that they could 
not dwell together. And there was a strife between the 
herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cat¬ 
tle : And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I 
pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herd- 
men and thy herdmen : for we be brethren. Is not the 
whole land before thee P Separate thyself, I pray thee, 
from me ; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go 
to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I 
will go to the left. 

And Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of 
Jordan, that it w as well watered every where even as the 
garden of the Lord; then Lot chose him all the plain of 
Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated 
themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in 
the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the 
plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was sep¬ 
arated from him, Lift up kow thine eyes, and look from 
the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and 
eastward, and westward : For all the land which thou 
seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth : so 


28 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall 
thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the 
land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I 
will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, 
and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in 
He'bron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is said of the temporal circumstances of Abram and Lot ? 

-What caused them to separate ?-In what place was it agreed 

that Abram was to dwell ?-In what one was Lot ? 


Practical Observations. 

The great riches which God gave to Abram, should be considered 
as an effectual blessing which he had promised him ; by which we 
may learn, that the promises of God are always fulfilled, and that he 
often bestows upon them that fear him, even the blessings of the pres¬ 
ent life. The disputes winch happened between the servants of 
Lot, and the servants of Abram, and the moderation of the latter, who 
gave his nephew Lot the choice of fixing where he pleased, is a les¬ 
son to us, to avoid those quarrels that are usually occasioned by 
worldly goods, to make the first advances towards an accommodation, 
and to renounce even our own advantage for the sake of peace. We 
may also take notice, from this chapter, of the folly and danger of con¬ 
sulting our senses only in the choice of a way of life. Lot made choice 
of the fruitful plain of Jordan ; not considering the danger of being in 
the neighbourhood of a most wicked people. The consequence of 
this unadvised choice was, he lost all he had ; he lost his w r ife ; and 
he had like to have lost his life, had not Abraham prevailed with God 
for his deliverance. This choice was made 20 years before Sodom 
was destroyed. 

44 — 

CHAP. X. 

God promiseth Abram a Son , and afterwards renews his 
Covenant. From the fifteenth and seventeenth Chapters 
of Genesis. B. C. 1913. 

And the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, 
saying, Fear not, Abram : I am thy shield, and thy exceed¬ 
ing great reward. And Abram said, Lord God, what 
wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of 
my house is this Elie'zer of Damascus ? and Abram said, 
Behold, to me thou hast given no seed : and lo, one born 
in my house is mine heir. And behold, the word of the 
Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir : 
but he that shall come forth out of thine own self shall be 
thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said. 
Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars if thou be able 




THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


29 


to number them : and he said unto him, So shall thy seed 
be. And he believed in the Lord, and he counted it to 
him for righteousness. 

And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee 
outot Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit 
it. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy 
seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and 
shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four 
hundred years ; and also that nation whom they shall serve 
will I judge : and afterward shall they come out with 
great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in 
peace ; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in 
the fourth generation they shall come hither again : for 
the iniquity of the Am'oritesis not yet full. 

B C 1898 And w ^ ien Abram was ninety years 
old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram 
and said unto him, I am the Almighty God ; walk before 
me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant 
between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 
And Abram fell on his face : and God talked with him, 
saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and 
thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy 
name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be 
Abraham ; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make 
nations of thee ; and kings shall come out of thee. And 1 
will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy 
seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting 
covenant; to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after 
thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after 
thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of 
Canaan, for an everlasting possession ; and I will be their 
God. 

QUESTIONS. 

What promise did God make to Abram in this chapter ?-What 

alteration was made in his name at this time —\V hat country was 

promised to his seed ? 

Practical Observations. 

They who trust in God and serve him, should fear no enemies, for 
they have an omnipresent and omnipotent Protector. Nor need they 
hesitate to renounce the most valuable temporal advantages for his 
sake- for he will abundantly recompense them—yea, he himself will be 
their shield and portion, their exceeding great and everlasting reward. 
With whatever long delays and great discouragements the faith of suck 
persons may be tried, he will strengthen it; and they who w?tlk before 

C 2 



30 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


him, trust in him, and wait for him, shall never be ashamed.—It is oui 
part to look to our own temper and conduct; and to leave all in his 
hands, who is all-sufficient and almighty ; and who, for the purposes 
of his own glory, often delays to interpose till expectation from every 
other quarter fails. 

444 * 

CHAP. XI. 

Abraham?s Hospitality and Importunity for Sodom. From 
the eighteenth Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1898. 

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of 
Mamre : and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the 
day •, and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three 
men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to 
meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to¬ 
ward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have 
found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, 
from thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be 
fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under 
the tree : And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and com¬ 
fort ye your hearts ; after that you shall pass on: for 
therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, 
so do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into 
the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three 
measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon 
the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetch¬ 
ed a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young 
man ; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, 
and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set 
it before them ; and he stood by them under the tree, 
and they did eat. 

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward 
Sodom ; and Abrabam went with them to bring them on 
the way. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abra¬ 
ham that thing which I do, seeing that Abraham shall 
surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the na¬ 
tions of the earth shall be blessed in him ? For I know 
him, that he will command his children and his house¬ 
hold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord 
to do justice and judgment ; that the Lord may bring 
upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. And 
the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah 
is great, and because their sin is very grievous ; I will 
go down now, and see whether they have done altogether 
according to the cry of it, which is come unto me f and 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


31 


if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces 
from thence, and went towards Sodom: but Abraham 
stood jet before the Lord. 

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also de¬ 
stroy the righteous with the wicked ? Peradventure there 
be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou aiso destroy 
and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are 
therein ? That be far from thee to do after this manner* 
to slay the righteous with the wicked : and that the 
righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: 
Shall not the Judge of ail the earth do right ? And the 
Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the 
city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And 
Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken 
upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and 
ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty 
righteous : wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five ? 
And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not 
destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, 
Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he 
said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. And he said unto 
him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak : 
Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he 
said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. And he 
said, Behold now, 1 have taken upon me to speak unto 
the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found 
there. And he said, 1 will not destroy it for twenty’s 
sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and 
I will speak yet but this once : Peradventure ten shall 
be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for 
ten’s sake. And the Lord went his way, as soon as he 
had left communing with Abraham •, and Abraham return¬ 
ed unto his place. 

QUESTIONS. 

What striking instance of Abraham’s hospitality is mentioned in 

this chapter?-For what purpose were these persons sent to 

Abraham ?-What were the requests made by Abraham to the 

Lord, in behalf of Sodom ? 


Practical Observations. 

The hospitality and humanity of Abraham are worthy not only 
of our most serious regard, but also of our imitation. He sat in the 
door of his tent, in the heat of the day, not only to enjoy the current 
of refreshing air, but that if he saw any weary and exhausted travel¬ 
lers, he might invite them to rest and refresh themselves. 

The conduct of Abraham on this occasion furnishes also a 
powerful instance of the efficacy of well directed prayer, “ The 





52 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” This 
was indeed true, in the case now under consideration ; and, such is 
the amazing extent of the divine mercy, that, had there been only ten 
righteous persons in the city, the rest would have been spared for 
their sakes. 

CHAP. XII. 

The Destruction of Sodom. From the nineteenth Chapter 
of Genesis. B. C. 1898. 

And there came two angels to Sodom at even ; and 
Lot sat in the gate of Sodom ; and Lot seeing them, rose 
up to meet them ; and he bowed himself with his face 
toward the ground ; and he said, Behold now, my lords, 
turn in, I pray you into your servant’s house, and tarry 
ail night, and wasli your feet, and ye shall rise up early, 
and go on your ways. And they said, nay ; but we will 
abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them 
greatly : and they turned in unto him, and entered into 
his house ; and he made them a feast, and did bake un¬ 
leavened bread, and they did eat. 

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even 
the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old 
and young, all the people from every quarter; and they 
called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men 
which came in to thee this night ? bring them out unto 
us that we may know them. And Lot went out at the 
door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, 
1 pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. And they 
said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow 
came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge : now 
will we deal worse with thee than with them. And they 
pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to 
break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and 
pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 
And they smote the men that were at the door of the 
house with blindness, both small and great: so that they 
wearied themselves to find the door. 

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any be¬ 
sides ? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and 
whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this 
place, for we will destroy this place, because the cry of 
them is waxen great before the face of the Lord ; and the 
Lord hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and 
spake unto his sons-in-law, which married his daughters, 
and said, Up, get ye out of this place ; for the Lord will 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


35 


destroy this city: but he seemed as one that mocked 
unto his sons-in-law. 

And when the morning arose, then the angels hasten¬ 
ed Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daugh¬ 
ters which are here ; lest thou be consumed in the m- 
iquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men, laid 
hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and 
upon the hand of his two daughters $ tke Lord being 
merciful unto him : and they brought him forth, and set 
him without the city. And it came to pass, when they 
had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for 
thy life : look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all 
the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou be con¬ 
sumed. 

And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord ! Be¬ 
hold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, 
and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast 
shewed unto me in saving my life: and I cannot escape 
to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die : Be¬ 
hold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little 
one : Oh, let me escape thither ! (Is it not a little one ?) 
and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, see, I 
have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I 
will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast 
spoken. Haste thee, escape thither ; for I cannot do 
any thing till thou be come thither : therefore the name 
of the city was called Zoar. 

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered 
into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon 
Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the Lord out ot 
heaven ; and he overthrew those cities, and all the 
plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that 
which grew upon the ground. And Abraham gat up 
early in the morning, to the place where he stood before 
the Lord : And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, 
and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, 
the smoke of the country went up as the smoke ol a 
furnace. 

QUESTIONS, 

How came there to be two angels in Lot s house ? ■■ ■ —— What took 

place with the Sodomites that night ?-What communication did 

the angels make to Lot concerning Sodom P-Who besides Lot 

were saved ? 


Practical Observations. 

We find that the example and precepts of Abraham had not been 
lost on his nephew Lot. He also, like his uncle, watches for oppor* 





$4 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


tunities to call in the weary traveller. This, Abraham had taught 
his household ; and we see the effect of this blessed teaching. Lot 
was both hospitable and pious, though living in the midst of a crook¬ 
ed and perverse race. 

What Sodom was, the world shall be ; and at the last day, when 
we shall arise and look towards the place where its pleasures and de¬ 
lights, its beauties and glories once existed, as “ Abraham arose in 
the morning, and looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and to¬ 
ward all the cities of the plain,” we shall behold a sight like that 
which presented itself to the Patriarch, u the smoke of the country 
going up, as the smoke of a furnace.” 

But the same all-gracious and merciful God, who, u when he de¬ 
stroyed the cities of the plain, remembered Abraham, and sent Lot 
out of the midst of the overthrow; when He shall destroy this place 
wherein we dwell, will remember the true Abraham, the father of 
us all, and our dear Redeemer and Intercessor—and for his sake, if we 
now repent and believe in him, will save us in that day from the 
ruins of a burning world, and from those fires which are never to be 
quenched. 


CHAP. XIII. 


Abraham offereth his son Isaac to the Lord. From the 
twenty first and twenty second Chapters of Genesis . 
B. C. 189 7. 

And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his 
son Isaac was born unto him. And it came to pass, that 
Tt r God did tempt Abraham, and said unto 

' him, Abraham : and he said, Behold, 
here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only 
son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land 
of Moriah ; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon 
one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took 
two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and 
clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and 
went unto the place of which God had told him. Then 
on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw 
the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young 
men, Abide you here, and I and the lad will go yonder 
and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham 
took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon 
Isaac his son ; and he took the fire in his hand, and a 
knife : and they went both of them together. And Isaac 
spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father : and 
he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the 
fire and the wood : but where is the lamb for a burnt- 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


33 


offering ? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide 
himself a lamb for a burnt-offering : so they went both 
of them together. 

And they came to the place which God had told him 
of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood 
in order; and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the 
altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his 
hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel 
of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, 
Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. And 
he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do 
thou any thing unto him : for now I know that thou fear- 
est God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine 
only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, 
and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a 
thicket by his horns : and Abraham went and took the 
ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead 
of his son. 

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of 
heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I 
sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this 
thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 
that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I 
will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as 
the sand which is upon the sea shore ; and thy seed shall 
possess the gate of his enemies ; and in thy seed shall 
all the nations of the earth be blessed : because thou hast 
obeyed my voice. So Abraham returned unto his young 
men, and they rose up, and went together unto Beer- 
sheba ; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. 

QUESTIONS. 

How old was Abraham when Isaac was born ?-What direc¬ 
tion did Abraham receive from God concerning Isaac s-W hat did 

he do, when they came to the place where the sacrifice was to be 
offered ?-Why was not Isaac offered ? 

Practical Observations. 

Here we see the truth of what the apostles Paul and James teach 
us, that Abraham showed his faith by his works, when God tried 
him, and commanded him to offer up his only son ; which is an evi¬ 
dent proof, that wherever true faith is, it leads men to do whatever 
God commands ) and consequently that we cannot please God, nor 
be justified, without obedience, and without good works. 

This admirable example of the obedience of Abraham, who obey¬ 
ed the divine command in so difficult a point, teaches us to Jove 
above all things, to be ready to offer up to him all that is most dear 
to us, and to submit ourselves to his will, even in the most hard and 






36 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


severe trials, and always trust in his providence. The repeated as¬ 
surances God gave Abraham of his favour, deserve particularly to be 
attended to, who said unto him, by his angel, after the patriarch had 
given proof of his obedience, “ Now I know that thou fearest God, 
seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me— 
because thou hast done this I will surely bless thee.” Though we owe 
our being and all that we have to God, and what we do deserves no re¬ 
ward ; yet he graciously accepts our endeavours to please him, and 
to express our love to him, and rewards them abundantly. 

CHAP. XIV. 

The Cave of Machpe'lah. From the twenty-third and 
twenty-fifth Chapters of Genesis. B. C. 1860. 

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty 
years old : and Sarah died ; and Abraham came to mourn 
and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up from be¬ 
fore his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 
1 am a stranger and a sojourner with you : give me a 
possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury 
my dead out of my sight. And the children of Heth an¬ 
swered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord ; 
thou art a mighty prince among us : in the choice of our 
sep'ulchres bury thy dead : none of us shall withhold from 
thee his sep'ulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 
And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people 
of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he com¬ 
muned with them, saying, If it be your mind that I 
should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and en¬ 
treat for me to E'phron the son of Zohar, that he may 
give me the cave of Machpe'lah, which he hath, which is 
in the end of his field ; for as much money as it is worth 
he shall give it me, for a possession of a burying place 
among you. And E'phron dwelt among the children of 
Heth. And E'phron the Hittite answered Abraham in 
the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that 
went in at the gates of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, 
hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is there¬ 
in, I give it thee ; in the presence of the sons of my peo¬ 
ple give I it thee: bury thy dead. 

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people 
of the land. And he spake unto E'phron in the audience 
of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, 
I pray thee hear me: I will give thee money for the 
field : take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 
And E'phron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


37 


lord, hearken unto me : the land is worth four hundred 
shekels of silver $ what is that betwixt me and thee ? 
bury therefore thy dead. And Abraham hearkened unto 
E'phron, and Abraham weighed to E'phron the silver 
which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, 
four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the 
merchant. 

And the field of E'phron, which was in Machpe'lah, 
the field and the cave which was therein, and all the 
trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders 


round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a pos¬ 
session in the presence of the children of Heth, before all 
that went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abra¬ 
ham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of 
Machpe'lah : the same is He'bron in the land of Canaan. 
A M 2175 And Abraham gave all that he had un- 
r>* p * to Isaac. And these are the days of the 

years of Abraham’s life which he lived, 
an hundred, threescore, and fifteen years. Then Abraham 
gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old 
man, and full of years ; and was gathered to his people. 
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave 
of Machpe'lah, in the field of E'phron, which Abraham 
purchased of the sons of Heth : there was Abraham buri¬ 
ed, and Sarah his wife. 


QUESTIONS. 

How old was Sarah when she died ?-Where was the cave of 

Machpe'lah ?-What did he pay for it ?--How old was Abraham 

when he died. 


Practical Observations. 

The longest life must shortly close ; and the survivors among re¬ 
lations only live to experience the greater number of painful separa¬ 
tions.—The more valued any earthly enjoyment is, the greater must 
be our reluctance to part with it, and our anxiety about it; and the 
sharper the anguish when that event actually takes place—and when 
those, who have lived together in conjugal harmony and affection for 
many years, are parted by death, the separation bears some resem¬ 
blance to the dissolution of soul and body. It has been remarked, 
that in different nations it was deemed ignominious to be buried in 
another’s ground ; probably, this prevailed in early times in the east— 
and it may be in reference to a sentiment of this kind, that Abraham 
refused to' accept the offer of the children of Heth to bury in any of 
their sepulchres, and earnestly requests them to sell him one, that he 
flight bury his wife in a place that he could claim as his own, 

D 










3fe 


THE BIBLICAL READER, 


CHAP. XV. 


Jacob goetk to Padan-aram. From the twenty eighth and 
ninth Chapters of Genesis. A. M. 2225. B. C. 1779. 

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged 
him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of 
the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to 
the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee 
a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy moth¬ 
er’s brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and mul¬ 
tiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people : 
and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to 
thy seed with thee ; that thou mayest inherit the land 
wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto 
Abraham. 

And Jacob went out from Be-er'sheba, and went tow¬ 
ard Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and 
tarried there all night, because the sun was set: and 
he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his 
pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he 
dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and 
the top of it reached to heaven : and behold, the angels 
of God ascending and descending on it. And behold, 
the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God 
of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac : the 
land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy 
seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth*; 
and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the 
east; and to the north, and to the south ; and in thee 
and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be 
blessed. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep 
thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee 
again into this land : for I will not leave thee, until I 
have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And 
Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the 
Lord is in this place ; and I knew it not. 

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this 
place 1 This is none other but the house of God, and 
this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in 
the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his 
pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the 
top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el ; 
but the name of that city was called Luz at the fitst. 
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with 
me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will 




i 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


39 


give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that 1 
come again to my father’s house in peace, then shall 
the Lord be my God : and this stone, which I have set 
tor a pillar, shall be God’s house : and of all that thou 
shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. 

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the 
land of the people of the east. And he looked, and be* 
hold a well in the field, and lo, there were three flocks 
ot sheep lying by it ; for out of that well they watered 
the flocks 5 and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. 
And thither were all the flocks gathered : and they rolled 
the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the sheep, 
and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his 
place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence 
be ye ? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said 
unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor ? and they 
said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he 
well P And they said, He is well : and while he yet 
spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep : 
for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob 
saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, 
that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the 
well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his moth* 
er’s brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up 
his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Raehel that he was 
her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son \ 
and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass 
when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son. 
that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed 
him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban 
all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou 
art my bone and my flesh : and he abode with him the 
space of a month. 

And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my 
brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought r 
tell me, what shall thy wages be ? And Laban had two 
daughters : and the name of the elder was Leah, and the 
name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender- 
eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And 
Jacob loved Rachel ; and said, I will serve thee seven 
years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban 
said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I 
should give her to another man : abide with me. And 
Jacob served seven years for Rachel ; and they seemed 
unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 


40 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


QUESTIONS. 

To whom was Jacob directed to go for a wife P-What took 

place at night when he was on the way ?——What did Jacob call 
the place where he had his vision ? 


Practical Observations. 

The Christian cannot but notice, with increased confidence in the 
faithfulness of God, that the divine promise of multiplying the poster¬ 
ity of Jacob has been fulfilled to a most astonishing extent; for his 
descendants already, at a moderate computation, have exceeded 
two hundred millions of people. They have existed more than 
three thousand and five hundred years ; and will probably continue 
to exist, as a distinct class of people, to the end of the world. And 
the time may come, when the number of Jacob’s posterity shall ex¬ 
ceed the whole number of the inhabitants of the earth at any one pe¬ 
riod since the creation. 


CHAP. XVI. 

Affectionate Meeting of Jacob and Esau. From the 

thirty second and thirty third Chapters of Genesis . 

A. M. 2265. B. C. 1739. 

And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God 
met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is 
God’s host. And Jacob sent messengers before him to 
Esau his brother, unto the land of Seir, the country of 
Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall 
ye speak unto my lord Esau ; Thy servant Jacob saith 
thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there un¬ 
til now : and I have oxen, and flocks, and men-servants, 
and women-servants : and I have sent to tell my lord, 
that I may find grace in thy sight. 

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We 
came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet 
thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was 
greatly afraid, and distressed : and he divided the peo¬ 
ple that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and 
the camels into two bands ; and said, If Esau come to 
the one company, and smite it, then the other company 
which is left shall escape. 

And Jacob said, 0 God of my father Abraham, and 
God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, 
Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will 
deal well with thee ; I am not worthy of the least of all 
the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed 
unto thy servant : for with my staff I passed over this 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


41 


Jordan, and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, 

I praj thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand 
ot Esau : for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, 
and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, 

I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the 
sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. 

And he lodged there that same night; and took of that 
which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother ; 
and he delivered it into the hand of his servants ; and 
said unto them, say ye, Behold, thy servant Jacob is 
behind us For he said, I will appease him with the 
present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see 
his face ; peradventure he will accept of me. So went 
the present over before him. And Jacob lifted up his 
eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with 
him four hundred men. And he bowed himself to the 
ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 
And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell 
on his neck, and kissed him : and they wept. And he 
lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, 
and said, Who are those with thee ? And he said, The 
children which God hath graciously given thy servant. And 
he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? 
And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my 
lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother ; keep 
that thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I 
pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then re¬ 
ceive my present at my hand : for therefore I have seen 
thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou 
wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing 
that is brought to thee : because God hath dealt gracious¬ 
ly with me, and because I have enough : and lie urged 
him, and he took it. 

QUESTIONS. 

To What place did Jacob send messengers to meet his brother 

Esau ?-What account did they bring back r-How did Jacob 

attempt to appease his brother Esau ? 

Practical Observations. 

Jacob’s recollection of his vnhindncss and injustice to his brother, 
when he hears that he is coming to meet him, fills his soul with fear, 
and obliges him to betake himself to God by prayer and supplica¬ 
tion. Flow important is the office of conscience. And how necessa¬ 
ry are times of difficulty and trial when its voice is loudest, and the 
heart is best prepared to receive its reproofs. In how many cases 
has conscience slumber ed , till it pleased God to send some trial by 
which it has been powerfully awakened, and the salvation of the sin¬ 
ner was the result ! Before I was afflicted I went astray. 







42 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


When a man’s ways please God, he maketh even his enemies to 
be at peace with him. When Jacob had got reconciled to God, God 
reconciled his brother to him. The hearts of all men are in the 
hands of God, and he turns them howsoever he will. 





CHAP. XVII. 

Jacob called Israel . From the thirty-fifth Chapter of 

Genesis . A. M. 2266. B. C. 1738. 

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth'el, and 
dwell there : and make there an altar unto God, that 
appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of 
Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, 
and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods 
that are among you, and be clean, and change your 
garments : and let us arise, and go up to Beth'el; and I 
will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in 
the day of my distress, and was with me in the way 
which I went. 

And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out 
of Padan-aram ; and blessed him. And God said unto 
him, Thy name is Jacob : thy name shall not be called 
any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name ; and he 
called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am 
God Almighty : a nation and a company of nations shall 
be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins. And 
the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will 
give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 
And God went up from him, in the place where he 
talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place 
where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone : and he 
poured a drink-offering thereon, and he poured oil there¬ 
on. And Jacob called the name of the place where God 
spake with him, Beth'el. 


QUESTIONS. 


At what place did God direct Jacob to build an altar?- 
What change took place in Jacob’s name, at this time ? 


Practical Observations. 


From Jacob’s frequent changing his dwelling, it appears that the 
patriarchs had no settled state in the land of Canaan ; and, from the 
afflictions with which God visited him, particularly by the death of 
Rachel, it appears that no happiness was secured to them on earth • 
and that their country was in heaven. We also learn, in this chap¬ 
ter, that wherever Jacob went, God appeared to him, and repeated 
his promises, and the assurance of his protection : from w hence we 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


45 


are to acknowledge, that God is every where with those that fear 
him, a»d"n.ever withdraws his love from them. We are moreover to 
observe, the care that Jacob took to banish idolatry out of his fami¬ 
ly, burying the idols which his people carried with them, and to ful¬ 
fil the vow which he had made to worship God at Bethel, where he 
had appeared to him as he went into Mesopota'mia, is a noble exam¬ 
ple of piety and gratitude, which we ought to imitate. 


CHAP. XVIII. 


Joseph hated of his Brethren. From the thirty seventh 
Chapter of Genesis. A. M. 2276.—B. C. 1728. 

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children* 
because he was the son of his old age ; and he made him 
a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw 
that their father loved him more than all his brethren, 
they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his breth¬ 
ren : and they hated him yet the more. And he said 
unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have 
dreamed : For behold, we were binding sheaves in the 
field, and lo, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; 
and behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made 
obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said unto him, 
Shalt thou indeed reign over us ? or shalt thou indeed 
have dominion over us ? and they hated him yet the 
more for his dreams and for his words. 

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his 

«/_ i ' 

brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream 
more : and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven 
stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his fath¬ 
er, and to his brethren : and his father rebuked him, and 
said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast 
dreamed ? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren in¬ 
deed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth ? 
And his brethren envied him j but his father observed 
the saying. 

And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in 
Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy 
brethren feed the flock in Shechem ? And he said to 
him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy 
brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word 
again. And when they saw him afar off, even before he 
came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay 
him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dream¬ 
er cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, 




44 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


and cast him into some pit 5 and we will say, Some evil 
beast hath devoured him ; and we shall see what will be¬ 
come of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he de¬ 
livered him out of their hands 5 and said, Let us not kill 
him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but 
cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no 
hand upon him 5 that he might rid him out of their hands, 
to deliver him to his father again. 

And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his 
brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat 
of many colours that was on him. And they took him, 
and cast him into a pit : and they sat down to eat bread : 
and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold a 
company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their 
camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to 
carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his breth¬ 
ren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal 
his blood ? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, 
and let not our hand be upon him 5 for he is our brother, 
and our flesh 5 and his brethren were content. And they 
drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph 
to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver : and they 
brought Joseph into Egypt. 

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and behold, Jo¬ 
seph was not in the pit: and he rent his clothes. And 
he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is 
not : and I, whither shall I go ? And they took Joseph’s 
coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in 
the blood : And they sent the coat of many colours, and 
they brought it to their father : and said, This have we 
found : know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. 
And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat 5 an evil 
beast hath devoured him : Joseph is without doubt rent 
in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth 
upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And 
all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him ; 
but he refused to be comforted ,* and he said, For I will 
go down into the grave unto my son mourning : thus his 
lather wept for him. 

QUESTIONS. 

Why is Jacob said to have loved Joseph more than his other chil¬ 
dren ? What e fleet had this on the minds of Joseph’s brethren to¬ 
wards him ?-W hat dreams had Joseph, which caused them to hate 

him the more P-What did they do with him ?--What did thev 

tell their father concerning him ? ^ 




Joseph sold to the Ishmaelites ....Page 44, 



Joseph meeting his father ....Page GQ, 















































































> 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


45 


Practical Observations. 

V\l e see, in the malice of Joseph’s brethren against him, that vir¬ 
tue and innocence are often exposed to envy and jealousy, and that 
these passions lead men to commit very great crimes. These pas¬ 
sions when lull grown, break through every tie of nature, every ob¬ 
ligation of duty, and every restraint of conscience and compassion. 
YVe may also see in this part of the history of Joseph, that when bad 
men are bent upon wickedness, they will never want some stratagem 
to eftect it, and some pretext to conceal it; but, however, unani¬ 
mous they may be in hiding their sins, they will at last be brought to 
light to their shame and confusion. 


CHAP. XIX. 

Joseph carried into Egypt and imprisoned. From the 

thirty-ninth Chapter of Genesis .— B. C. 1729. 

A. M. 2275. 

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt: and Poti- 
phar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an 
Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, 
which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was 
with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man : and he was 
in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master 
saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made 
all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found 
grace in his sight, and he served him : and he made him 
overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into 
his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had 
made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, 
that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s 
sake : and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he 
had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that 
he had in Joseph’s hand ; and he knew not ought he had, 
save the bread which he did eat: and Joseph was a good¬ 
ly person, and well-favoured. 

And it came to pass after these things, that his mas¬ 
ter’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and would have 
seduced him. But he refused, and said unto his mas¬ 
ter’s wife, Behold, my master hath committed all that he 
hath to my hand ; how then can I do this great wicked¬ 
ness and sin against God ? And it came to pass, as she 
spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto 
her ; and she caught him by his garment, and he left his 
garment in her hand, and tied, and got him out. And 
she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 
And she spake unto him according to these words, say- 


46 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ing, The Hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto 
us, came in unto me to mock me : and it came to pass 
as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his gar¬ 
ment with me, and fled out. And it came to pass when 
his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake 
unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to 
me ; that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph’s master 
took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the 
king’s prisoners were bound : and he was there in the 
prison. 

But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mer¬ 
cy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the 
prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Jo¬ 
seph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison ; 
and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that 
was under his hand ; because the Lord was with him: 
and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who bought Joseph of the Ishmaelites ?-How was lie treated ? 

—Who caused him to be imprisoned ?—How was he treated by the 
prison keeper ?—What mark of favour and confidence was shown 
him whpn in prison ? 


Practical Observations . 

Joseph was no sooner arrived in Egypt, than by his wisdom and 
fidelity he gained the favour and confidence of his master, and expe¬ 
rienced that blessing from God, which every where attends the virtu¬ 
ous. But he was there likewise exposed to a dangerous temptation; 
which, however, he resisted, through the fear he had of sinning 
against God. This example of Joseph’s piety and chastity, ought to 
have great influence upon Christians to keep themselves from sin. 
It is seen, by what happened to Joseph, when accused by his mas¬ 
ter’s wife, and thrown into prison, that those who have cast off mod¬ 
esty are easily hurried to revenge, lying, and all manner of wicked¬ 
ness ; and that innocence is sometimes slandered and oppressed. 
But the kind treatment Joseph met with in prison, shows that God 
is always with the righteous ; and, that he never forsakes them, 
even when they are persecuted unjustly. 


CHAP. XX. 

Pliaraofds Butler and Baker imprisoned. From the forti¬ 
eth Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 17£0.—A. M. 2284. 

And it came to pass after these things, that the butler 
of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their 
lord the king of Egypt. And he put them in ward in the 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


47 


B. C. 1718. 


house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the 
place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the 
guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: 
and they continued a season in ward. 

And they dreamed a dream both of 
them, each man his dream in one night, 
each man according to the interpretation of his dream ; 
the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which 
were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto 
them in the morning, and looked upon them, and behold, 
they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that 
were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, 
Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day P And they said unto 
him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no inter¬ 
preter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not inter¬ 
pretations belong to God ? Tell me them, I pray you. 
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said 
unto him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me ; 
And in the vine were three branches: and it was as 
though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth ; and the 
clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes : and Pharaoh’s 
cup was in my hand : and I took the grapes, and press¬ 
ed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and 1 gave the cup into 
Pharaoh’s hand. 

And Joseph said unto him, this is the interpretation of 
it: the three branches are three days ; yet within three 
days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee 
unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup 
into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast 
his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with 
thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and 
make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of 
this house : For indeed I was stolen away out of the 
land of the Hebrews : and here also have I done nothing 
that they should put me into the dungeon. 

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was 
good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and 
behold, I had three white baskets on my head : And in 
the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake- 
meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of 
the basket upon my head. And Joseph answered, and 
said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three bas¬ 
kets are three days : yet within three days shall Pharaoh 
lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a 
-tree m , and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 




48 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And it came to pass the third day, which was Phara¬ 
oh’s birth day, that he made a feast unto all his servants ; 
and he restored the chief butler unto his butlership 
again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand : but 
he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted 
to them. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who were cast into prison wi‘h Joseph P-TVhat brought him 

into notice with Pharaoh’s officers ?-What request did he make 

of the chief butler, on interpreting his dream ?-What became of 

Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker ? 


Practical Observations. 

This chapter furnishes us with the following reflections—First, 
That the dreams of Pharaoh’s two officers were sent by God to serve 
afterwards to make Joseph known to Pharaoh, and to procure his re¬ 
lease from prison ; wherein we should admire the providence of the 
Almighty, who so ordered it, that he might bring about the deliver¬ 
ance and exaltation of his servant. Secondly, the behaviour of the 
butler, who forgot Joseph, represents the usual conduct of those in 
prosperity ; they forget those in misery, even though they owe 
them the greatest obligations. However, it must be observed, 
Thirdly, that God would not deliver Joseph out of prison by means 
of this officer, but was pleased to try him yet two years longer, to 
deliver him afterwards in a more wonderful manner, and raise him to 
a greater degree of power than he would have obtained if he had 
been set at liberty before. This shows that “ God’s ways are not 
as our ways that he does not always make use of those methods 
for the deliverance of his children which men judge most convenient; 
and if he be slow in coming to their assistance, it is because he will 
deliver them after a more signal manner. 

CHAP. XXI. 

Joseph releasedfrom, Prison , and advanced to great Honour 
in Egypt. From the forty first Chapter of Genesis. 
B. C. 1715. 

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that 
Pharaoh dreamed : and behold, he stood by the river. 
And behold, there came up out of the river seven well-fa¬ 
voured kine and fat fleshed ; and they fed in a meadow. 
And behold, seven other kine came up after them out 
of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed ; and stood by 
the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill- 
favoured and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well- 
favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 

And he slept and dreamed the second time : and behold, 
seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


49 


And behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east 
wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears 
devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh 
awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And it came to 
pass in the morning, that his spirit was troubled ; and he 
sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the 
wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dreams ; 
but there was none that could interpret them unto Pha¬ 
raoh. 

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do 
remember my faults this day : Pharaoh was wroth with 
his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the 
guard’s house, both me and the chief baker: and we 
dreamed a dream in one night, I and he : we dream¬ 
ed each man according to the interpretation of his 
dream. And there was there with us a young man, an 
Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard ; and we told 
him, and he interpreted to us our dreams : to each man 
according to his dream he did interpret. And it came 
to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was : me he restored 
unto mine office, and him he hanged. 

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought 
him hastily out of the dungeon : and he shaved himself, 
and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, 
and there is none that can interpret it : and I have heard 
say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to inter¬ 
pret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is 
not in me : God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh 
is one : God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 
The seven good kine are seven years $ and the seven 
good ears are seven years : the dream is one. And the 
seven thin and ill-favoured kine that came up after them 
are seven years ; and the seven empty ears blasted with 
the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is 
the thing which 1 have spoken unto Pharaoh : What God 
is about to do he showeth unto Pharaoh : behold, there 
come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land 
of Egypt : And there shall arise after them seven years of 
famine : and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land 
of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land ; and 
the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of 
that famine following : for it shall be very grievous. 

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh 

E 








50 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


twice ; it is because the thing is established by God, and 
God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let 
Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him 
over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let 
him appoint officers over the land, and take up the filth 
part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 
And let them gather all the food of those good years that 
come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh ; and 
let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be 
for store to the land against the seven years of famine, 
which shall be in the land of Egypt ; that the land perish 
not through the famine. 

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the 
eyes of all his servants; and Pharaoh said unto his servants, 
Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the 
spirit of God is ? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Foras¬ 
much as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so 
discreet and wise as thou art ; thou shalt be over my 
house, and according unto thy word shall all my people 
be ruled ; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, 1 have set thee over 
all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring 
from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed 
him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about 
his neck ; and he made him to ride in the second chariot 
which he had : and they cried before him, Bow the knee : 
and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And 
Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without 
thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land 
of Egypt. 

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before 
Pharaoh king of Egypt: and Joseph went out from the 
presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of 
Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth 
brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the 
food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, 
and laid up the food in the cities : the food of the field 
which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 
And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very 
much, until he left numbering; for it was without num¬ 
ber. And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in 
the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of 
dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said : and 
the famine w'as over all the face of the earth : and Joseph 
opened all the store-houses, and sold unto the Egyptians ; 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


51 


and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And 
all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn : 
because that the famine M as so sore in all lands. 

QUESTIONS. 

What were the two dreams of Pharaoh?-Why was he induced 

to employ Joseph to interpret them ?-What was the interpre¬ 
tation of the dreams ?-What direction did Joseph give Pharaoh 

relating to the approaching famine ?-To what honour did the king 

appoint Joseph ?-What was Joseph’s age at this time ? 


Practical Observations. 

We have now followed Joseph to the height of his advancement. 
We have seen him in all the several parts of life virtuous and religious ; 
patient and courageous under the greatest misfortunes ; and modest 
and temperate in the greatest successes. His virtue, indeed, had 
been for some time ill requited. He was imprisoned by his master, 
for being just and faithful to him, in a point in which his peace and 
honour, were, in the greatest degree, concerned. Yet, though he suf¬ 
fered, his own conscience gave him some comfort, and the spirit of God 
greater. He resigned himself up entirely to the Divine Will; as 
knowing that whatever happens, it will “ work together for good to 
them that love God.” The Divine workings are, indeed, many times 
to us unsearchable ; but they are always managed by infinite good¬ 
ness and wisdom. Joseph trusted in God ; who not only delivered 
him from the prison where he had been confined, but at once advan¬ 
ced him to be first minister to the king of Egypt. Such was the re¬ 
ward of his piety! And thus was it done to that person, whom the 
Lord delighteth to honour. 

CHAP. XXII. 

Joseph’s Brethren go to Egypt for Bread. From the 
forty second Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1707* 

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, 
Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon an¬ 
other P And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is 
corn in Egypt; get you down thither, and buy for us 
from thence, that we may live, and not die. And Jo¬ 
seph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 
But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother. Jacob sent not with his 
brethren : for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall 
him. 

And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those 
that came : for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 
And Joseph was the governour over the land, and he it 
was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s 
brethren came and bowed down themselves before him with 








THE BIBLICAL READER* 


J2 

their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, 
and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, 
and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, 
Whence come ye ? And they said, From the land of 
Canaan to buy food. 

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dream¬ 
ed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see 
the nakedness of the land ye are come. And they said 
unto him, Nay, my Lord, but to buy food are thy ser¬ 
vants come. We are all one man’s sons ; we are true 
men ; thy servants are no spies. And he said unto 
them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are 
come. And they said, Thy servants are twelve breth¬ 
ren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan ; and be¬ 
hold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one 
is not. 

And Joseph said unto them, That is it that [ spake 
unto you, saying, Ye are spies : hereby ye shall be 
proved : By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth 
hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Send 
one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall 
be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, 
whether there be any truth in you : or else by the life 
of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. And he put them alto¬ 
gether into ward three days. And Joseph said unto 
them the third day, This do, and live ; for I fear God : 
If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in 
the house of your prison : go ye, carry corn for the fam¬ 
ine of your houses : but bring your youngest brother unto 
me ; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not 
die. And they did so. 

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty 
concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of 
his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear ; 
therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben 
answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying. 
Do not sin against the child ; and ye would not hear ? 
therefore behold also his blood is required. And they 
knew not that Joseph understood them ; for he spake 
unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself 
about from them, and wept: and returned to them again, 
and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, 
and bound him before their eyes. 

Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, 
and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to, 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


53 


give them provision for the way : and thus did he unto 
them. And they departed thence ; and came unto Jacob 
their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that 
befel unto them. 

And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that 
behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack ; 
and when both they and their father saw the bundles of 
money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said 
unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children : Joseph 
is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin 
away: all these things are against me. And Reuben 
spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I 
bring him not to thee : deliver him into my hand, and I 
will bring him to thee again. And he said, My son shall 
not go down with you ; for his brother is dead, and he is 
left alone : if mischief befal him by the way in the which 
ye go, then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow 
to the grave. 

QUESTIONS. 

For what purpose did Jacob send his sons into Egypt ?-How 

did Joseph receive his brethren when they came into Egypt ?- 

Did he know them ?-Of what did he accuse them ?-How did 

he propose to prove their sincerity P—How was Jacob affected with 
the report they brought back ? 


Practical Observations. 

What Joseph’s brethren said one to another when they were put 
in prison, is very remarkable. Till then, they had not so lively a 
sense of the heinousness of the sin they had committed against him 
twenty years before ; but the distress they were in, made them re¬ 
member the anguish in which they had seen him, and their inhuman 
treatment of him. The conscience of a siriner may be insensible for 
a time ; but sooner or later it will awake, especially in time of ad¬ 
versity, and torment him with horror and remorse. 

CHAP. XXIII. 

Joseph's Brethren go to Egypt the second time. From 
the forty-third Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1707. 

And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to 
pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had 
brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go 
again buy us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, 
saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, 
Ye shall not see my face except your brother be with you. 

E 2 







54 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down 
and buy thee food: but if thou wilt not send him, we will 
not go down ; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see 
my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said, 
Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the mail 
whether ye had yet a brother ? 

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our 
state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet 
alive ? have ye another brother ? and we told him ac¬ 
cording to the tenour of these words. Could we certain¬ 
ly know that he would say, Bring your brother down ? 
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with 
me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not 
die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will 
be surety for him : of my hand shalt thou require him : 
if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, 
then let me bear the blame forever. 

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be 
so now, do this ; take of the best fruits in the land in 
your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little 
balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts and 
almonds : and take double money in your hand $ and the 
money that was brought again in the mouth of your 
sacks, carry it again in your hand ; peradventure it was 
an oversight: take also your brother, and arise, go again 
unto the man: and God Almighty give you mercy before 
the man, that he ma} r send away your other brother, and 
Benjamin: If I be bereaved of my children, I am be¬ 
reaved. 

And the men took that present, and they took double 
money in their hand, and Benjamin ; and rose up, and 
went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And 
when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the 
ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and 
make ready : for these men shall dine with me at noon. 
And the man did as Joseph bade : and the man brought 
the men into Joseph’s house. And the men were afraid, 
because they were brought into Joseph’s house ; and they 
said, Because of the money that was returned in our 
sacks at the first time are we brought in ; that he may 
seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us 
for bond men. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: 
your God, and the God of your father, hath given you 
treasure in your sacks : I had your money. And he 
brought Simeon out unto them. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


55 


And when Joseph came home, they brought him the 
present, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. And 
he asked them of their welfare, and said, is your father 
well, the old man of whom ye spake ? Is he yet alive ? 
And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good 
health, he is yet alive : and they bowed down their heads, 
and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw 
his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this 
your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me ? and 
lie said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph 
made haste ; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother : 
and he sought where to weep ; and he entered into his 
chamber, and wept there. 

QUESTIONS. 

Which of Jacob's sons persuaded him to send Benjamin to Egypt 

as required by Joseph ?-What did Judah promise his father if he 

would let Benjamin go P-What direction did Jacob give his sons ? 

-How did Joseph receive them when they reached Egypt the 

second time ? 


Practical Observations. 

Jacob’s being forced to send his sons again into Egypt, must be 
considered as a new trial brought on by God ; in which appeared 
his tenderness for his children, and his faith and perseverance ; above 
all, he gave a noble example of piety and resignation, recommend¬ 
ing them to the divine protection, and submitting to be deprived of 
them, if God should think fit. Thus are we to submit to the dispen¬ 
sations of Providence, and-resign ourselves to all events. What Jo¬ 
seph said to his brethren when they came again into Egypt, and his 
manner of treating them, shewed his extreme tenderness for his father 
and brother Benjamin; and that he always loved his brethren not¬ 
withstanding the injuries they had done him. This character of 
kindness and meekness is the sure mark of good men—they not only 
have the most tender affection for their relations, but are without re¬ 
sentment for the injuries they have received, and are always ready 
to do good to those that have offended them. 

CHAP. XXIV. 

Judah's eloquent Appeal to Joseph. From, the forty fourth 
Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1707. 

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, 
fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can car¬ 
ry. and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 
And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of 
the youngest, and his corn money : and he did according 
to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the 
morning was light, the men were sent away. And when 






56 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Jo¬ 
seph said unto his steward, LJp, follow after the men : 
and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, 
Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good ? Is not this 
it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he di- 
vineth P ye have done evil in so doing. 

And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these 
same words. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith 
my lord these words ? God forbid that thy servants should 
do according to this thing : Behold, the money wnich we 
found in our sack’s mouths, we brought again unto thee oul 
of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy 
lord’s house silver or gold ? With whom soever of thy ser¬ 
vants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be 
my lord’s bond-men. And he said, Now also let it be 


according unto your words : he with whom it is found 


shall be my servant, and ye shall be blameless. 

Then they speedily took down every man his 
the ground, and opened every man his sack. 


sack to 
And he 


searched and began at the eldest, and left at the 


young- 

Then 


est: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, 
they rent their clothes, and returned to the city. And 
came to Joseph’s house, (for he was yet there:) and they 
fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, 
What deed is this that ye have done ? And Judah said. 
What shall we say unto my lord ? what shall we speak Pi 
or how shall we clear ourselves ? God hath found out the 
iniquity of thy servants ; behold we are my lord’s servants, 
both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And 
he said, God forbid that I should do so : but the man in 
whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant ; 
and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my 
lord, let thy servant, 1 pray thee, speak a word in my 
lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy ser¬ 
vant : for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his 
servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother ? And 
we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, 
and a child of his old age, a little one : and his brother 
is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father 
loveth him. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Brino* 
him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him? 
And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his fath¬ 
er : for if he should leave his father his father would die. 
And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest 


I: 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


57 


bi other come down with you, ye shall see my face no 
more. And it came to pass, when we came up unto thy 
servant, my father, we told him the words of my lord. 
And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 
And we said, We cannot go down : if our youngest brother 
be with us, then will we go down ; for we may not see 
the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us. 
And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that 
my wife bare me two sons : and the one went out from 
me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces ; and I saw 
him not since : And it ye take this, also, from me, and 
mischief befal him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs 
with sorrow to the grave. 

Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, 
and the lad be not with us ; (seeing that his life is bound up 
in the lad’s life,) it shall come to pass, when he seeth that 
the lad is not with us, that he will die : and thy servants 
shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father 
with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became sure¬ 
ty for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not 
unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead 
of the lad a bond-man to my lord ; and let the lad go up 
with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, 
and the lad be not with me P lest peradventure I see the 
evil that shall come on my father. 

QUESTIONS. 

What measure did Joseph again take to humble his brethren before 

he made himself known to them ?-What did they propose when 

accused of taking Joseph’s cup ?-Which one of them addressed 

Joseph when brought before him?-What did Judah do to effect the 

release of Benjamin ? 


Practical Observations. 

No paraphrase can heighten the effect of Judah’s address to Joseph. 
To add, would be to diminish its excellence—to attempt to explain , 
would be to obscure its beauties—to clothe the ideas in other language 
than that of Judah, and his translators in our Bible, would ruin its en¬ 
ergy, and destroy its influence. It is perhaps one of the most ten¬ 
der and affecting pieces of natural oratory ever spoken or perused— 
and we need not wonder to find that when Joseph heard it, he could 
not refrain himself, but wept aloud. His soul must have been insen¬ 
sible beyond what is common to human nature, had he not immedi¬ 
ately yielded to a speech so delicately tender, and so powerfully im¬ 
pressive, 






58 


THE BIBLICAL READER 


CHAP. XXV. 

Joseph maketh himself known to his Brethren. From the 
forty fifth Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1707. 

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them 
that stood by him : and he cried, Cause every man to go 
out from me : aud there stood no man with him. while 
Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he 
wept aloud ; and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh 
heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, i am Joseph ; 
doth my father yet live P And his brethren could not an¬ 
swer him ; for they were troubled at his presence. And 
Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me I pray 
you: and they came near. And he said, I am Joseph 
your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore 
be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold 
me hither : for God did send me before, you to preserve 
life. And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord 
of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of 
Egjpt. 

Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, 
Thus saitli thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all 
Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not. And thou shalt 
dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto 
me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, 
and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: and 
there will 1 nourish thee, (for yet there are five years of 
famine f) lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou 
hast, come to poverty. And ye shall tell my father of all 
my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen : and ye 
shall haste, and bring down my father hither. And he 
fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Ben¬ 
jamin wept upon his neck. Moreover, he kissed all his 
brethren, and wept upon them : and after that his brethren 
talked with him. 

To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment: 
but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, 
and five changes of raiment. And to his father he sent 
waggons laden with the good things of Egypt, with corn 
and bread and meat. So he sent his brethren away, and 
they departed : and he said unto them, See that ye fall not 
out by the way. 

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the 
land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, and told him, say¬ 
ing, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governour over all the 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


59 


land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believ¬ 
ed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, 
which he had said unto them : and when he saw the wag¬ 
gons which Joseph had sent to cany him, the spirit of 
Jacob their father revived : and Israel said, It is enough ; 
my son is yet alive : 1 will go and see him before 

QUESTIONS. 

What reason did Joseph give ins brethren for not grieving at their 

forim rconduct towardsnim ?-W hat did lie promise to do lor them ? 

-What did he give them previous to their departure tor Canaan? 

-What did Jacob say, on hearing that Joseph was alive ? 


Practical Observations. 

Joseph saw that his brethren were confounded at his presence— 
that they were struck with his present power—and that they keenly re¬ 
membered, and deeply deplored their guilt. It was absolutely necessa- 
ty to comfort them, lest their hearts should have been overwhelmed 
with overmuch sorrow. How delicate and finely wrought is the 
apology he makes for them ! the whole heart of the pious and afiec- 

! donate brother is at once seen in it— art is confounded and swallowed 
up by nature —“ Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves—it was 
not you that sent me hither, but God.” What he says also concerning 
his father, shows the warmest feelings of a benevolent, pious, and filial 
heart. Indeed the whole chapter is a masterpiece of composition ; 
and it is the more impressive, because it is evidently a simple relation 
of facts just as they occurred —no attempt appears to have been made 
to heighten the effect, by rhetorical colouring or philosophical reflec¬ 
tions. 

CIIAP. XXVI. 

Jacob and his Family remove to Egypt. From the forty 
sixth Chapter of Genesis. B. C. 1706. 

And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and 
came to Beer'sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of 
his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the vis¬ 
ions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob : and he said 
Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God ol thy 
father ; fear not to go down into Egypt ; for I will there 
make of thee a great nation : I will go down with thee 
into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again ; 
and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. 

And Jacob rose up from Beer'sheba : and the sons of 
Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, 
and their wives, in the waggons which Pharaoh had sent 
to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods 
u hich they had gotten in the land of Canaan and came 












60 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him : his sons, 
and sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ 
daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into 
Egypt. 

All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, besides 
Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and 
six and the sons of Joseph which were born him in 
Egypt, were two souls : ail the souls of the house of Ja¬ 
cob, which came into Egypt were threescore and ten. 
And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct 
his face unto Goshen ; and they came into the land of 
Goshen. And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went 
up to meet Israel his father to Goshen ; and presented 
himself unto him: and he fell on his neck, and wept on 
Ins neck a good while And Israel said unto Joseph, 
N ow let me die, since i have seen thy face, because thou 
art yet alive. 

QUESTIONS. 

What took place at Beer'sheba?-What did God there promise 

him?-How many persons went with Jacob into Egypt?- 

Where din Joseph meet his father?-What did Jacob then say ? 


Practical Observations. 

The promise which God made to Abraham, to give his posterity ; 
the land of Canaan, could not be performed till Abraham’s family 
was grown strong enough to take and keep possession of it. In the 
mean time, therefore, they were necessitated to reside among idola¬ 
ters, and to reside unmixed; but whoever examines their history, 
will see that the Israelites ever had a violent propensity to join them¬ 
selves to Gentile nations, and to practise their manners. God, there¬ 
fore, in his infinite wisdom, brought them into Egypt, and kept them 
'•there during this period, the only place where they could remain so 
long a time safe and unconfounded with the natives—the ancient 
Egyptians being, by numerous institutions, forbidden all fellowship 
with strangers, and bearing besides, a particular aversion to the pro¬ 
fession of the Israelites, who were shepherds. Thus from the Israel¬ 
ites going into Egypt, arises a new occasion to adore the footsteps of 
Eternal Wisdom, in his dispensations to his chosen people. 


CHAP. XXVII. 


Joseph presenteth his Father and Brethren to Pharaoh , 
and he settleth them in the Land of Goshen. From 
the forty seventh and forty eighth Chapters of Gen¬ 
esis. B. C. 1708. 


Th en Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My 
father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, 
and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan ; 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


61 


and behold, they are in the land of Goshen. And 
he took some of his brethren, even five men, and pre¬ 
sented them unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto his 
brethren, What is your occupation ? And they said unto 
Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also 
our fathers. 

They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in 
the land are we come : for thy servants have no pasture 
for their flocks, for the famine is sore in the land of Ca¬ 
naan : now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell 
in the land of Goshen. And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph 
saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee : 
The land of Egypt is before thee ; in the best of the land 
make thy father and brethren to dwell ; in the laud of 
Goshen let them dwell ; and if thou knowest any men of 
activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. 

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him 
before Pharaoh : And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pha¬ 
raoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou ? And Jacob said 
unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are 
an hundred and thirty years : few and evil have the days 
of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto 
the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days 
of their pilgrimage. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went 
out from before Pharaoh. 

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave 
them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of 
the land as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph nour¬ 
ished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s house¬ 
hold, with bread according to their families. 

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country 
of Goshen ; and they had possessions therein, and grew, 
and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land 
of Egypt seventeen years : so the whole age of Jacob was 
an hundred, forty and seven years. And the time drew 
nigh that Israel must die : and he called his son Joseph, 
and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, 
I pray thee, deal kindly and truly with me ; bury me not, 
I pray thee, in Egypt : But J will lie with my fathers, 
and thou shaltcarry me out of Egypt, and bury mein their 
burying-place. And he said, I will do as hou hast said 
And he said, Swear unto me : and he sware unto him. 
And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head. 

And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die •, but God 
shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of 

F 



62 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 




your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion 
above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the j 
Amorite with my sword and with my bow. 

QUESTIONS. 

What inquiry did Pharaoh make of Joseph’s brethren when pre¬ 
sented to him?-What did Pharaoh say to Joseph?-What 

inquiry did he make of Jacob ?--What was Jacob’s reply ? 


Practical Observations. 

Pharaoh’s kind reception of Jacob and bis family, which is a mark 
of the blessing that attended Jacob, shows how God disposes and 
turns the hearts of kings in favour of those he loves. 

If we look into the story of those friends and favourites of Heaven, 
the ancestors of the Israelitish nation, we find them sojourning in a 
land that was not theirs ; dwelling only in tents, soon pitched, and 
as soon removed again ; having no ground of their own to set their 
foot on, save only a possession of a burying-place, and that purchased 
of the inhabitants ; where they might rest from their travels, till they 
shall pass, at the resurrection of the just, to their durable inheritance 
in the kingdom of God. Such was Jacob’s notion of human life, 
expressed in his answer to the Egyptian monarch who had inquired 
his age. 

Besides the desire, natural to men, of being buried with their fore¬ 
fathers, Jacob had this peculiar reason for his request, namely, his j 
belief, that the country where their bodies lay was his in reversion ;j 
and that God, in his due time, would put his children into possession] 
of it—for which time they would long more earnestly, because the I 
bodies of their ancestors were there buried. 

CHAP. XXVIII. I 

Jacob calleth his Sons and blesseth them. From the forty- 

ninth Chapter of Genesis. A. M. 2315 —B.C. 1689. 

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather your¬ 
selves together, that I may tell you that which shall be¬ 
fall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, 
and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel 
your father. 

Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the 
beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and 
the excellency of power : unstable as water, thou shalt 
not excel. 

Simeon and Levi are brethren : instruments of cruelty 
arc in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into 
their secret$ unto their assembly, mine honour, be not 
thou united : for in their anger they slew a man, and in 
their self-will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their 



h 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


63 


Unger, for it was fierce : and their wrath, for it was cruel: 
I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise ; 
thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies : thy 
father’s children shall bow down before thee. The scep¬ 
tre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from 
between his feet, until Shiloh come : and unto him shall 
the gathering of the people be. 

Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of the sea ; and he 
shall be for an haven of ships ; and his border shall be 
unto Zidon. 

Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between two 
burdens : and he saw that rest was good, and the land 
that it was pleasant: and bowed his shoulder to bear, 
and became a servant unto tribute. 

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of 
Israel. 

Gad, a troop shall overcome him : but he shall over¬ 
come at the last. 

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield 
royal dainties. 

Naphtali is a hind let loose : he giveth goodly words. 

Eh. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a 
• well; whose branches run over the wall : the archers 
have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 
but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands 
FWere made strong by the hands of the mighty God of 
Jacob : from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel : 
even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, and 
by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of 
heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under: 
they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown 
of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. 

Benjamin shall raven as a wmlf: in the morning he 
shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the 
spoil. 

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel : and this is it 
that their father spake unto the n, and blessed them: 
every one according to his blessing he blessed them. And 
he charged them, and said unto them, 1 am to be gathered 
unto my people : bury me with my fathers in the cave 
that is in the field of E'phron the Hittite, in the cave that 
is in the field of Machpelah, which is in the land of Ca¬ 
naan, which Abraham bought for a possession of a bury- 
ing-place. (There they buried Abraham and Sarah his 






64 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


wife ; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wite ; and 
there I buried Leah.) And when Jacob had made an end 
of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the 
bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto 
his people. 

QUESTIONS. 

For what purpose did Jacob call his sons together?-What pre- I 

diction did he make concerning Judah ?-What did he charge 

them to do ?-With whom was he to be buried ?-What took 

place when he had made an end of speaking to them ? 

Practical Observations. 

We can scarcely conceive a scene more noble or dignified, than 
that exhibited at the death-bed of Jacob. This great man was now 
one hundred and forty seven years of age—though his body, by the 
wastes of time, was greatly enfeebled, yet with a mind in perfect 
vigour, and a hope full of immortality, he calls his numerous family 
together, all of them in their utmost state of prosperity, and gives 
them his last counsels, and his dying blessing. His declarations 
show that the secret of the Lord was with him; and that his candle 
shone bright upon his tabernacle. Having finished his work, with 
perfect possession of all his faculties, and being determined that 
while he was able to help himself , none should be called in to assist; > 
which was one of the grand characteristics of his life, he stretched 
himself upon his bed, and rather appears to have conquered death, 
than to have suffered it. Who, seeing the end of this illustrious pa¬ 
triarch, can help exclaiming, There is none like the God ot Jeshurinrf 1 
Let Jacob’s God be my God ! Let me die the death of the righteous, 
and let my last end be like His • 

CHAP. XXIX. 

Joseph burieth his Father. His own death . From the 
fiftieth Chapter of Genesis. A. M. 2315.—B.C. 1689. 

And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon 
him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants 
the physicians to embalm his father; and the physicians em¬ 
balmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him ; (for 
so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed:) and 
the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. 

Anti when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph 
spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have 
found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears 
of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, 
Lo, I die : in my grave which I have digged for me in 
the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now 
therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, 
and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and 
bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


05 


And Joseph went up to bury his father : and with him 
went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his 
house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all 
the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s 
house : only their little ones, and their flocks, and their 
herds they left in the land of Goshen. And there went 
up with him both chariots and horsemen : and it was a 
very great company. And his sons did unto him accord¬ 
ing as he commanded them : for his sons carried him into 
the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field 


ot Machpelah, which Abraham bought for a possession of 
a burying-place of E'phron the Hittite. 

And Joseph returned into Egypt, he and his brethren, 
and all that went up with him to bury his father, after 
he had buried his father. And when Joseph’s brethren 
saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will 
peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all 
the evil which we did unto him. And they sent messen¬ 
gers unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before 
ne died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I 
pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their 
sin ; for they did unto thee evil : and now, we pray thee, 
forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy 
father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 

IgAnd his brethren also went and fell down before his 
face : and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And 
Joseph said unto them, Fear not : for am I in the place 
of God P But as for you, ye thought evil against me $ but 
God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this 
day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye 
not : I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he 
comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. 

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I 
die : and God will surely visit you, and 
bring you out of this land, unto the land 
which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And 
Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God 
will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from 
hence. So Joseph died being an hundred and ten years 
old : and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin 
in Egypt. 

QUESTIONS. 


A. M. 2369. 

B. C. 1635. 


What was done to the body of Jacob before it wasburied?-For how 

long time did the Egyptians mourn for him ?-What did Joseph’s 

brethren fear after their father’s death?-What did Joseph say to 





66 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


them ?-At what age did he die ?-What oath did he require of 

his brethren before Iris death ? 



Practical Observations. 


The attention paid to the dead, though commonly the effect of cus¬ 
tom or superstition, should result from faith in the doctrine of the 
immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the body. Our de¬ 
ceased friends still live, and we shall meet them again; though sep¬ 
arated from the body, a re-union shall certainly take place. There¬ 
fore we commit the body, with decent respect, unto the ground, in 
sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life of all true 
believers ; and whatever our hopes or fears are, God is the only in¬ 
fallible Judge who are, and who are not true believers. 

Moses does not tell us what became of the other sons of Jacob; 
but Josephus saith, they were all carried into the land of Canaan to 
be buried. For they had probably the same desire, and gave the 
same charge concerning their bodies, to keep their posterity in hope, 
that God would certainly bring them thither. This may seem to be 
imported by the words of St. Stephen also, “ Jacob went down into 
Egypt and died, he and our fathers, and were carried over into 
Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought.” 


CHAP. XXX. 


The Children of Israel oppressed , and the Birth of Moses. $ 
From, the first and second Chapters of Exodus . I 

A. M. 2369.—B. C. 1635. 

. 

And the children of Israel multiplied, and waxed ex¬ 
ceeding mighty ; and the land was filled with them. Now 


there arose up a new king over Egypt, 
which knew not Joseph. And he said 
unto his people, Behold, the people of 


A. M. 2400. 

B. C. 1604. 


the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. 
Come on, let us deal wisely with them : lest they multi¬ 
ply, and it come to pass, that when there falleth out any 
war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against 
us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore, they 
did set over them task-masters, to afflict them with their 
burdens. But the more they afflicted them, the more 
they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved be¬ 
cause of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made 
the children of Israel to serve with rigour* And Pliara- 
A M. 2424. oh char S? d a11 llis people, saying, every 


son that is born ye shall cast into the riv¬ 
er, and every daughter ye s 1 ' 1 


B. C. 1580. 
A. M. 2432. 



And there went a man of 


B. C. 1572* Lev^ and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 








T 



Moses found.... Page 67. 



Moses and the burning bush ....Page 68. 














































THE BIBLICAL READER. 


67 


A M 2433 Andfche woman bare a son : and when 
B* C * 1371 * she^saw him that he'was a goodly child* 
she hid him three months. And when 
she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark 
ol bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and 
put the child therein ; and she laid it in the flags by the 
river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what 
would be done to him. 

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash her-- 
self at the river, and her maidens walked along by the 
river’s side : and when she saw the ark among the "flags, 
she-sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened 
it, she ^saw the child : and behold, the babe wept. And 
she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the 
Hebrew’s children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s 
daughter, Shall I go, and call to thee a nurse of the He¬ 
brew women, that she may nurse the child for thee ? 
And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Go. And the 
maid went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s 
daughter said unto her, Take this child away and nurse 
it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the wo¬ 
man took the child and nursed it. And the child grew, 
and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he be¬ 
came her son. And she called his name Mo»es : and she 
said, Because I drew him out of the water. 


QUESTIONS. 

What was the state of the children of Israel ?-What fear had 

the Egyptians from them ?-What method did Pharaoh adopt to 

reduce their strength ?-What was done with Moses by his moth¬ 
er to preserve his life ?-How was he discovered ?-Who was 

appointed to nurse him ? 


Practical Observations. 

The multiplying of the children of Israel in Egypt, and the barbar¬ 
ous methods made use of by Pharaoh to destroy them, fulfil what 
God had foretold the patriarchs, that their posterity should be greatly 
increased ; that it should be afflicted in Egypt; and that afterwards 
he would bring them out from thence. We must likewise observe 
the wisdom and goodness of God who blessed the children of Israel 
in Egypt; but as he would not have them continue there, suffered 
them to be thus persecuted, to the end they might be the more easily 
induced to leave that country. Thus God often permits his children 
to be afflicted and persecuted in this world, to try them, and to make 
them leave it without regret. 

Upon reading in this chapter how Moses was, by a particular 
providence, preserved after his birth, nursed by his own mother, and 
brought up at court by the king’s daughter; we should be led to ad¬ 
mire the wonders of God’s providence, who so ordered it, that the 








68 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


exposing of the child should pro e the means of his exaltation ; and 
that he who was one day to deliver the people of Israel from the 
tyranny of the Egyptians, should be brought up by the daughter of 
that very prince who had undertaken to destroy the Israelites. 


CHAP. XXXI, 

God appeared to Moses, and commissioned him to deliver 

Israel. From the third and fourth Chapters of Exo¬ 
dus. A. M. 95 13.—B. C. 1491. 

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, 
the priest of Midian : and he led the flock to the back 
side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even 
to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto 
him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he 
looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the 
bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now 
turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not 
burnt. 

And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, 
God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and 
said, Moses, Moses. And he said. Here am I. And he 
said, Draw not nigh hither : put off thy shoes from off thy 
feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of 
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And 
Moses hid his face : for he was afraid to look upon God. 

And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of 
my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry 
by reason of their task-masters ; for I know their sorrows ; 
and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of 
the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land, unto 
a good land, and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and 
honey. Come now, therefore, and I will send thee unto 
Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the chil¬ 
dren of Israel out of Egypt. 

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should 
go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the chil¬ 
dren of Israel out of Egypt ? Behold, when I come unto 
the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God 
of your fathers hath sent me unto you ; and thev shall 
say to me, What is his name ? what shall I say unto 
them ? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM : 
and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of 
Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


69 


And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou 
say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your 
fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the 
God of Jacob, hath sent, me unto you : this is my name 
for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. 
Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto 
them, The I iord God of your fathers, the God of Abra¬ 
ham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared untome, saying, I 
have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to 
you in Egypt: and I have said, I will bring you up out 
of the affliction of Egypt, unto the land of the Canaanites, 
and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, 
and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing 
with milk and honey. And they shall hearken to thy 
voice ; and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, 
unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The 
Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us $ and now r 
let us go (we beseech thee) three days’ journey into the 
wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 

And Moses answered and said, But behold, they will 
not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice : for they will 
say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. And the 
Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand P And he 
said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And 
he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent: and 
Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto 
Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. 
And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became 
a rod in his hand : that they may believe that the Lord 
God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of 
Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 

And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now 
thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his 
bosom : and when he took it out, behold, his hand was 
leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy 
bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again, 
and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned 
again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if 
they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice 
of the first sign, that they will believe the \oice of the 
latter sign. And it shall come to pass, if they will not 
believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy 
voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and 
pour it upon the dry land : and the water which thou tak- 
est out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. 


70 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not 
eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken 
unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow 
tongue. And the Lord said unto him, YVho hath made 
man’s mouth ? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the 
seeing, or the blind ? have not I the Lord ? And lie said, 
O my Lord, send, I pray thee, bv the hand of him whom 
thou wilt send. And the Lord said, Is not Aaron the 
Levite thy brother ? I know that he can speak well. And 
thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: 
and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and 
will teach you what ye shall do. 

QUESTIONS. 

What was the employment of Moses?-How did the angel of 

God appear unto him ?-For what purpose did the angel tell Moses 

that he had appeared to him ?-By whom was Moses directed to 

tell the Egyptians he was sent unto them ?-What miracles was 

Moses enabled to work in proof of his divine commission ?-What 

reason did he give for not wishing to go to Pharaoh ? 

Practical Observations. 

By the miracle of the bush which Moses saw in flamoe without be¬ 
ing consumed, God was pleased to engage his attention, and convince 
him that he was there in a peculiar manner present. After this, God 
spake to Moses, and assured him that the time was come in which he 
had determined to deliver his people from the tyranny of Pharaoh, 
and fulfil the promises he had before made to Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob. This might serve to confirm Moses in his mission, and con¬ 
vince the Israelites themselves, that Moses was sent to them from 
God, and that the time of their deliverance was come. Hence we see 
that God is always faithful to his covenant and promises ; and that 
it is impossible he should ever forsake his church and his people. 

From the repeated refusal of Moses to go and speak to the king 
of Egypt, and from what God did to engage him to obedience, we 
learn, that when God calls, it is our duty to obey the call, without 
fearing any thing, and without hearkening to the suggestions of the 
flesh, which are apt to lead us aside from our duty. The promises 
that God made to be with Moses, the signs by which he confirmed the 
promises, and the power he gave him to work miracles, intimate to us 
that God always atfords strength and means sufficient for the execution 
of his commands, and that he is always with his servants wherever he 
sends them. 

I I Hi 


CHAP. XXXII. 

The Heart of Pharaoh hardened. From the fifth , seventh , 
eighth , ninth , tenth , eleventh , and twelfth Chapters of 
Exodus. A. M. 2513.—B. C. 1491. 

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told 
Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my peo- 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


fl 


pie go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilder¬ 
ness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should 
obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not the Lord, 
neither will I let Israel go. Wherefore do ye, Moses 
and Aaron, let the people from their works ? get you unto 
your burdens. 

And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now r 
are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. 
And Pharaoh commanded the same day the task-masters 
ot the people, and their officers, saying, Let more work 
be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein : and 
let them not regard vain words. 

And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had command¬ 
ed : and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and 
before his servants, and it became a serpent. 

Then Pharaoh also called the wise men, and the sorcer¬ 
ers : now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like 
manner with their enchantments. For they cast down eve¬ 
ry man his rod, and they became serpents : but Aaron’s 
rod swallowed up their rods. 

And the Lord said untoMoses, Pharaoh’s heart is harden¬ 
ed, he refuseth to let the people go. And Moses and 
Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up 
the rod and smote the waters that were in the river, in the 
sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants ; and all 
the waters that were in the river were turned into blood. 
And the fish that was in the river died ; and the Egyptians 
could not drink of the water of the river ; and there was 
blood throughout all the land of Egypt. And the magicians 
of Egypt did so with their enchantments : and Pharaoh’s 
heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them ; as 
the Lord had said. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, 
Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over 
the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up 
upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched out his hand 
over the w aters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and cover¬ 
ed the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so with their 
enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, 
Entreat the Lord that he may take away the frogs from 
me, and from my people : and I will let the people go, 
that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. But when 
Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, 
and hearkened not unto them. 


7£ THE BIBLICAL READER. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, 
Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that 
it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 
And they did so ; for Aaron stretched out his hand with 
his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and all the dust 
of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 
And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring 
forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, 
and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, 
This is the finger of God : and Pharaoh’s heart was har¬ 
dened, and he hearkened not unto them. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the 
morning, and stand before Pharaoh ; and say unto him, 
If thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send 
swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and 
upon thy people, and into thy houses. And the Lord 
did so : and there came a grievous swarm of flies into 
the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and 
into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by 
reason of the swarm of flies. 

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sac¬ 
rifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye 
shall not go very far away: entreat for me. And Moses 
went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord : and 
the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he 
removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his ser¬ 
vants, and from his people ; there remained not one. 
And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither 
would he let the people go. 

Then the Lord said unto Moses, and unto Aaron, 
Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and 
sprinkle it towards the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 
And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, 
and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, 
and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. And 
they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh ; 
and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven: and it became 
a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon 
beast. And Pharaoh hearkened not unto them ; as the 
Lord had spoken unto Moses. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the 
morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, 
Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people 
go, that they may serve me. For now I will stretch out 
my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


l o 


pestilence ; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth, for 
to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be 
declared throughout all the earth. As yet exaltest thou 
thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go ? 
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand 
toward heaven. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward 
heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire 
ran along upon the ground : and the Lord rained hail up¬ 
on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled 
with the hail very grievous, such as there was none like it 
in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the 
hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was 
in the field, both man and beast, and the hail smote eve¬ 
ry herb of the field and brake every tree of the field. 
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel 
were, was there no hail. 

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, 
and said unto them, I have sinned this time : the Lord 
is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. But 
when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the 
thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and harden¬ 
ed his heart, he and his servants. Neither would he let 
the children of Israel go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand 
over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may 
come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of 
the land, even all that the hail hath left. And Moses 
stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the 
Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, 
and all that night : and when it was morning, the east 
wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over 
all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of 
Egypt, so that the land was darkened ,* and they did eat 
every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees 
which the hail had left. 

Then Pliaraoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste ; 
and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, 
and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, 
my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God 
that he may take away from me this death only. And 
he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. 
And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind which 
took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea: 
there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 

G 


74 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would 
not let the children of Israel go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand 
toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land 
of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses 
stretched forth his hand toward heaven : and there was a 
thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days : they 
saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for 
three days : but all the children of Israel had light in their 
dwellings. 

Butthe Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not 
letthemgo. And Pharaohsaid unto him, Get thee from me, 
take heed to thyself, see my face no more: for in that day 
thou seest my face, thou shalt die. And Moses said, 
Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one 
plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt 5 afterwards 
he will let you go hence : when he shall let you go, he shall 
surely thrust you out hence altogether. 

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all 
the lirst-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of 
Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the 
captive that was in the dungeon and all the first-born of 
cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all 
his servants, and all the Egyptians ; and there was a 
great cry in Egypt: for there was not a house where 
there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and 
Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth 
from among my people, both ye and the children of Isra¬ 
el : and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Also take 
your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone. 

QUESTIONS. 

What reply did Pharaoh make Moses when requested to let the 

Children of Israel go P -How did he treat them ?——What was 

the first miracle wrought by Aaron before Pharaoh?-What other 

miracles were wrought before Pharaoh previous to letting the chil¬ 
dren of Israel depart ?-Which of the miracles of Aaron were 

imitated by the magicians ? 

Practical Observations. 

It is a very common case, that the methods which God uses to 
bring sinners to repentance, are perverted by them to a quite contra¬ 
ry end, and leave them more incorrigible than they found them. If 
he prospers them, they think he is pleased: if he casts them down, 
and raises them again, they hope he is reconciled, though they are’ 
not reformed. The constancy of his application to them passes into 
customary form, and they grow just like that perverse kind of peo¬ 
ple, who, the more they are courted and entreated to do a thing 
which is plainly for their own good, the more resolutely they set 








THE BIBLICAL READER. . 



themselves against it. The methods which God takes to soften and 
bend sinners, may end in their greater hardness and stubbornness; 
and since this worst effect will too often result from the best designs, 
God may be said to harden them, but cannot, without the greatest 
injustice, be said to be the author of their sins. His dealings with 
them, whether he spare or punish them, have all one voice, and call 
out to them as they did here, to turn from the errors of their ways, to 
cease to do evil, and learn to do well. But if that which should 
have been for their salvation, proves the cause of their destruction, 
the fault cannot be in good means, but only in the abuse of them. 

We see then, that when God says, he raised up Pharaoh for this 
cause, that he might magnify his power and glory in his punishment, 
he does not mean that he made him either a man or a king with 
such a view ; but that he preserved him from the fatal stroke of for¬ 
mer visitations, that he did not expire under them, but his life was 
prolonged for further trials and exercises of the same kind. We are 
not therefore to suppose that God infused into the heart of Pharaoh 
any bad qualities, or ungodly resolutions ; but only did not vouch¬ 
safe to him those convictions which might have softened him—“ and 
he gave him up to his own heart’s lust,” and likewise ordered things 
so to fall out, that lie became more and more obdurate. 




CHAP. XXXIII. 


The Children of Israel depart out of Egypt; and the De¬ 
struction of Pharaoh hi the lied Sea. From the twelfth 
and fourteenth Chapters of Exodus. A. M. 2513.— 

B. 0 . 1491. 

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel who 
dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And 
it came to pass, at the end of the four hundred and thirty 
years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all 
the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 
It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord, for bring¬ 
ing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night 
of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in 
their generations. 

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: 
and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned 
against the people, and they said, Why have we done 
this, that we have let Israel go from serving us ? And he 
made ready his chariot, and took his people with him r 
and he pursued after the children of Israel : and the 
children of Israel went out with an high hand. But the 
Egyptians pursued after them (all the horses and chariots 
of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army) and over¬ 
took them encamping by the sea. And when Pharaoh 
drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


76 

and behold, the Egyptians marched after them ; and 
they were sore afraid : and the children of Israel cried 
out unto the Lord. And Moses said unto the people, 
Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, 
which he will shew to you to-day. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou 
unto me ? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go 
forward : but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine 
hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of 
Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea ; and 
the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind 
all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters 
were divided. And the children of Israel went into the 
midst of the sea upon the dry ground : and the waters 
were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 

And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them, 
to the midst ol the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his 
chariots, and his horsemen. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand 
over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the 
Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 
And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the 
waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horse¬ 
men, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea 
after them ; there remained not so much as one of them. 
But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the 
midst of the sea ; and the waters were a wall unto them 
on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord 
saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians : 
and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 
And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did up¬ 
on the Egyptians ; and the people feared the Lord, and 
believed the Lord and his servant Moses. 

QUESTIONS. 

How long did the children of Israel sojourn in Egypt?-What 

did Pharaoh do, on being told that they were gone ?-By what 

miracle of Moses were they enabled to escape from Pharaoh ?_ 

What became of Pharaoh ?-What effect did these miracles pro¬ 

duce on the Israelites ? 


Practical Observations. 

The events recorded in this chapter are truly astonishing; and 
they strongly mark what God can do, and what he will do, both 
against his enemies, and in behalf of his followers. In vain are all 
tile forces of Egypt united to destroy the Israelites: at the breath 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


77 


of God s mouth they perish : and his feeble, discouraged, unarmed 
followers take the prey ! With such a history before their eyes, is it 
not strange that sinners should run on frowardly in the path of trans¬ 
gression ; aud that those who are redeemed from the world, should 
ever doubt of the all-sufficiency and goodness of God. 

I he case of the Israelites is not a solitary one : most of those who 
me called Christians, are not more remarkable for faith and patience. 
.Lvery reverse will necessarily pain and discompose the people who 
are seeking their portion in this life. And it is a sure mark of a 
worldly mind, when we trust the God of providence and grace no 
farther than we see the operations of his hand in our immediate sup¬ 
ply ; and murmur and repine when the hand of his bounty seems 
closed, and the influences of his spirit restrained; though our un¬ 
thankful and unholy carriage has been the cause of this change. 
*1 hose alone who humble themselves under the mighty hand of God 
shall be lifted up in due season. 




CHAP. XXXIV. 


The Song of Moses on the Overthrow of Pharaoh. From 

the fifteenth Chapter of Exodus. A. M. 2513.—B. C. 
1491. 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song 
unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the 
Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously ; the horse and 
his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my 
strength and song, and he is become my salvation : he is 
my God, and I will prepare him an habitation ; my fath¬ 
ers God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of 
war ; the Lord is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and 
his host hath he cast into the sea ; his chosen captains 
also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have cov¬ 
ered them : they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy 
right hand, 0 Lord, is become glorious in power thy 
right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.. 
And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast over¬ 
thrown them that rose up against thee : thou sentest forth 
thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with 
the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered togeth¬ 
er, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths 
were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, 
I will pursue, I will overtake, l will divide the spoil y 
my lust shall be satisfied upon them ; I will draw my 
sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow 
with thy wind, the sea covered them : thy sank as lead 
in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O Lord* 
among the gods ? who is like thee, glorious in holiness?. 

da 


THE BIBLICAL REAtj&Uo 


78 

fearful in praises, doing wonders ! Thou stfetcliedst out 
thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou in thy 
mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeem¬ 
ed : thou hast girded them in thy strength unto thy holy 
habitation. The people shall hear, and be afraid ; sor¬ 
row shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 
Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed ; the mighty 
men of Moab, trembling, shall take hold upon them : all 
the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and 
dread shall fall upon them ; by the greatness of thine arm 
they shall be as still as a stone—till thy people pass over, 
O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast pur¬ 
chased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in 
the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, 0 Lord, 
which thou hast made for thee to dwell in ; in the sanc¬ 
tuary, 0 Lord, which thy hands have established. The 
Lord shall reign forever and ever. For the horse of 
Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen 
into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of 
the sea upon them : but the children of Israel went on 
dry land in the midst of the sea. 

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took 
a timbrel in her hand ; and all the women went out after 
her, with timbrels, and with dances. And Miriam an¬ 
swered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed 
gloriously ; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into 
the sea. 


Practical Observations. 

The most ancient of all poems now extant, at least, of those thd 
age of which has been ascertained, is this thanksgiving ode of Mo¬ 
ses, after the passage of the Red Sea: it is, at the same time, most 

J jerfect in its kind. It shows the early connexion which subsisted 
tetween poetry and religion; and is an example of that species of 
poetical composition, which the Hebrews cultivated more than all 
other sorts, and in which they particularly excelled ; namely, the 
rendering of publick thanks in songs of triumph to God, for prosper¬ 
ity in their enterprises, and for success in war. 

Those events in providence, and those experiences in the life of 
faith which have occasioned our most distressing apprehensions, of¬ 
ten terminate in such a manner as to fill our hearts wdth gratitude, 
and our mouths with praises: nor would the Lord lead those whom 
lie loves into straits, did he not intend to render them subservient to 
his own glory, and to their comfort and advantage.—When we have 
patiently and quietly waited for deliverance out of trouble, and have 
trad our expectations answered, we should proclaim to all around us 
the wonderful works of God; and every one in the improvement of 
his talent, and the exercise of his peculiar endowments should eon- 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 79 

cur in so pleasant and reasonable a service.—They who oppress the 
people of God are his declared enemies, over whom he will at length 
triumph completely: and all shall acknowledge that he is not only 
“ glorious in power,” but “ glorious in holiness” in their destruction, 
and in that of all impenitent sinners. But they who humbly submit 
to him, and trust in his mercy, will find that he “ is become their 
salvation,” and “ he will compass them about with songs of de¬ 
liverance.” 

CHAP. XXXV. 

The Israelites fed on Manna. From the sixteenth Chap¬ 
ter of Exodus. A. M. 2513.—13. C. 1491. 

And they took their journey from Elim, and all the 
congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wil¬ 
derness which is between Elim and Sinai, and the whole 
congregation of the children of Israel murmured against 
Moses and Aaron in the wilderness : and the children 
of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by 
the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat 
by the flesh-pots, and when we did eat bread to the full : 
for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill 
this whole assembly with hunger. 

And Moses spake unto Aaron, say unto all the con¬ 
gregation of the children of Israel. Come near before the 
Lord, for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came 
to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of 
the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wil¬ 
derness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in 
the cloud. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard 
the murmurings of the children of Israel ; speak unto 
them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the 
morning ye shall be filled with bread : and ye shall know 
that I am the Lord your God. And it came to pass, that 
at even the quails came up, and covered the camp : and 
in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And 
when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the 
face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as 
small as the hoar frost on the ground : and when the chil¬ 
dren of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is 
manna : for they wist not what it was. And Moses said 
unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given 
you to eat. 

This is thing which the Lord hath commanded. 
Gather of it every man according to his eating : 








80 


THE BIBLICAL READETl. 


an omer for every man according to the number of your 
persons, take ye every man for them which are in his 
tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, 
some more, some less. And when they did mete it with 
an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and 
he that gathered little had no lack : they gathered every 
man according to his eating. And Moses said, Let no 
man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding, they 
hearkened not unto Moses ; but some of them left of it 
until the morning, and it bred worms, and was spoiled : 
and Moses was wroth with them. And they gathered it 
every morning, every man according to his eating : and 
when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 

And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gath¬ 
ered twice as much bread, and all the rulers of the con¬ 
gregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, 
This is that which the Lord hath said, To-morrow is the 
rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord. Abide ye every 
man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the 
seventli day. So the people rested on the seventh day. 
And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord com- 
mandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your genera¬ 
tions ; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed 
you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the 
land of Egypt. And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a 
pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up 
before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As 
the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before 
the Testimony, to be kept. And the children of Israel 
did eat manna, forty years, until they came to a land in¬ 
habited ; they did eat manna, until they came unto the 
borders of the land of Canaan. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did the children of Israel say when they came into the wil¬ 
derness P-How were they then supplied with food ?-When 

did they collect the manna ?-How were they to be supplied with 

it on the Sabbath ?-How was their posterity to know of this mir¬ 
aculous supply of bread in the wilderness ?--IIow lonjr were ihev 

supplied with manna ? * 


Practical Observations. 

That the manna was a type of our blessed Redeemer, and of the 
salvation which he has provided for man, there can be no doubt • for 
in this way, it is applied by Christ himself; and from it, we may 
gather this general conclusion, that salvation is of the Lord The 
Israelites must have perished in the wilderness, had not God fed th$m 








the biblical reader. 


81 


with bread from heaven. And every human soul must have perish* 
ed, had not Jesus Christ came down from heaven, and given him¬ 
self for the life of the world. God would have the Israelites contin¬ 
ually dependant on himself for all their supplies ; hut he would 
make them in a certain way, workers with him. He provided the 
manna ; they gathered and ate it. The first was God’s work ; the 
latter their own. They could not produce the manna, and God 
would not gather it for them. Thus the providence of God appears in. 
such a way as to secure the co-operation of man. Though man should 
plant and xcater, yet it is God who giveth the increase. But, if man 
neither plant nor water, God will give no increase. We cannot do 
God s work ; and he will not do ours. Let us, therefore, both in. 
things spiritual and temporal, be icorkers together with HIM. 

CHAP. XXXVI. 

The Ten Commandments given on Mount Sinai. From 
the nineteenth and twentieth Chapters of Exodus . 
A. M. 2513.—B. C. 1491. 


In the third month, when the children of Israel were 
gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came 
they into the wilderness of Sinai •, and there Israel en¬ 
camped before the mount. 

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, 
that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud 
upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding 
loud : so that all the people that was in the camp trem¬ 
bled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the 
camp to meet with God ; and they stood at the nether part 
of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a 
smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire : and 
the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and 
the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of 
the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, 
Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the 
Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the 
mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the 
mount ; and Moses went up. And the Lord said unto 
him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, 
and Aaron with thee : But let notthe priests and the people 
breakthrough, to come up unto the Lord, lest he break 
forth upon them. So Moses went down unto the people, 
and spake unto them. 

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord 
thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of 
Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have 
jio other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee 


82 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in 
heaven above, or thatis in the earth beneath, or that is in the 
water under the earth : Thou shalt not bow down thyself 
to them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a 
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children unto the third and fourth generation of them 
that hate me : And shewing mercy unto thousands of 
them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou 
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain : 
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his- 
name in vain. Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy. 
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work : But the 
seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it thou 
shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daugh¬ 
ter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cat¬ 
tle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates : For in six 
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all 
that in them is, and rested the seventh day ; where¬ 
fore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it. 
Honour thy father and thy mother ; that thy days may be 
long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 
JThou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness 
against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neigh- 
bom s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife* 
nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor 
Ins ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. 

. Alld the people saw the thunderirigs, and the light¬ 
nings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain 
smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, 
and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak 
thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak 
with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, 
Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear 
may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 


QUESTIONS. 

ou,’,t V Sim,! w,‘ vi , ng Egyl ?‘ did the Israelites encamp before 
oun* fcuiai --What miraculous appearances did the Mount pre- 

•lhrough whom did God deliver the law to the Israelites ? 


Mount 
sent ?■ 


Practical Observations. 

nflbe'lv ' ha P ter we have with some of the most awful displays 

have had n'o e Darallei y ! “ an " es J ations ° f justice and holiness which 

wh ch e Xdl ™! ’ • d , have none > until that day arise, in 

The alorv V ! S' , '" IT S °J y ’ ‘,° ■ ,ud » e ,he T" 0 ' 1 »"<* <l>e d « ad - 
O lory was truly terrible, and to the children oflsrael insufferable • 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


83 


and yet how highly privileged, to have God himself speaking to 
them from the midst of the fire, giving them statutes and judgments, 
so righteous, so pure, so holy, and so truly excellent in their opera¬ 
tion and their end, that they have been the admiration of all the wise 
and upright, in all countries and ages of the world, where their voice 
has been heard! 

Though we neither hear the thunders, nor see the lightnings, nor 
witness the awful circumstances with which the holy law was given; 
and though we are not appalled by the voice of God himself, speak¬ 
ing to us from the top of blazing Sinai ; yet if we attend to the 
things then spoken, we shall perceive that we have as much occasion 
to tremble for ourselves as Israel had when they stood at the foot of 
the mountain. This law which is so extensive that we cannot 
measure it, so spiritual that we cannot evade it, and so reasonable 
that we cannot find fault with it, will be the rule of the future judg¬ 
ment of God, as it is of the present conduct of man. Nor would it 
consist with the glory of the Lord’s perfection, the honour of his gov¬ 
ernment, the interest of his universal and everlasting kingdom, or 
even with the felicity of his rational creatures, to reverse, repeal, or 
relax one precept of it; for it is all perfectly “ holy, just,” and 
“ good.” 

CHAP. XXXVII. 

Moses consecratelh Aaron and his Sons. From the eight 
Chapter of Leviticus. A. M. 25 14.—B. C. 1490. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take Aaron 
and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anoint¬ 
ing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, 
and a basket of unleavened bread ; and gather thou all 
the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle 
of the congregation. And Moses did as the Lord com¬ 
manded him; and the assembly was gathered together 
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And 
Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which 
the Lord commanded to be done. And Moses brought 
Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And 
he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, 
and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon 
him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the 
ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. And he put 
the breast-plate upon him : also he put in the breast-plate 
the Urim and the Thummim. And he put the mitre up¬ 
on his head ,* also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront 
did he put the golden plate, the holy crown 5 as the Lord 
commanded Moses. And Moses took the anointing oil, 
and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and 
sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the al¬ 
tar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his ves- 


34 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


sels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And 
he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and 
anointed him, to sanctify him. And Moses brought 
Aaron’s sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them 
with girdles, and put bonnets upon them $ as the Lord 
commanded Moses. 


Practical Observation *. 

In these types we see onr great High-Priest, as solemnly appointed, 
anointed, and invested in his sacred office; and, by his own blood 
and the influences of his holy Spirit, sanctifying the ordinances of 
religion to the benefit of his people, and to the honour of God, who, 
for his sake, accepts our worship though we are sinners, and it is pol¬ 
luted with sin. We may also rejoice that, though free from sin him¬ 
self, yet having suffered, being tempted, he is a merciful and faithful 
High-Priest, full of tender compassion to the feeble minded and af¬ 
flicted soul, and that having finished his consecration and sacrifices 
upon earth, as our perfected High-Priest, he forever appears in the 
presence of God for us. 

44 «« 

CHAP. XXXVIII. 

Sundry Laws . From the nineteenth Chapter of Leviticus. 

A. M. 2514.—B. C. 1490. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto 
-all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say un¬ 
to them, Ye shall be holy : for I the Lord your God am 
holy. 

Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father, and 
keep my sabbaths : I am the Lord your God. Turn ye 
not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods : I am 
the Lord your God. 

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt 
not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou 
gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not 
glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape 
of thy vineyard ; thou shalt leave them for the poor and 
stranger: lam the Lord your God. Ye shall not steal, 
neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. And 
ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou 
profane the name of thy God : I am the Lord. 

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him : 
the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee 
all night, until the morning. Thou shalt not curse the 
deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but 
shalt fear thy God ; I am the Lord. Ye shall do no 
unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


85 


person of the poor, nor honour the person of the migh¬ 
ty : but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neigh¬ 
bour. 

Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among 
thy people $ thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine 
heart ; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and 
not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor 
bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but 
thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. 
Ye shall keep my statutes and my sabbaths, and rever¬ 
ence my sanctuary : I am the Lord. 

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour 
the face of the old man, and fear thy Gcd : I am the 
Lord. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, 
ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth 
with you, shall be unto you as one born among you, and 
thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in 
the land of Egypt : I am the Lord your God. 

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in mete- 
yard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, and just 
weights shalf ye have : I am the Lord your God, which 
brought you out of the land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye 
observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do 
them: I am the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

All these aws are of the greatest importance, and most of them 
regard Christians as well as they did the Jews. The duties here en¬ 
joined are such as these : To honour father and mother; to respect 
religion ; to serve God with a free heart; and, in conformity to his 
holy word, to be charitable to the poor; and not to be covetous, par¬ 
ticularly in times of harvest and vintage, and gathering of fruits. 
We are likewise taught here, that it is a great sin before God to in¬ 
jure our neighbour, to take a false oath, to withhold the labourer’s 
wa<res, and to deride those who have any bodily defects, as the deaf 
and blind, or to do them any harm ; and to have respect to persons 
in the execution ofjustice or judgment, either by favouring the poor 
and needy, or paying a deference to the rich and great. Lastly, we 
here learn to abstain from slander, hatred and revenge ; to rebuke 
our neighbour when he sins, and love him as ourselves; to respect 
old age ; to do justice to strangers, and to use true weights and 
measures. These are duties of piety, purity, and justice, which con¬ 
cern all men without exception ; and they are still more strictly com¬ 
manded by the law of Jesus Christ, than they were by the law 
of Moses ; so that they are to Christians still more sacred and 
inviolable. 


H 



86 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. XXXIX. 

A Blasphemer Stoned. From the twenty fourth Chapter 
of Leviticus. A. M. 2514.—B. C. 1490. 

And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father w T as 
an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel ; 
and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel 
strove together in the camp : And the Israelitish woman’s 
son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed : and 
they brought him unto Moses : And they put him in ward, 
that the mind of the Lord might be shewed them. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth 
him that hath cursed without the camp $ and let ail that 
heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the 
congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the 
children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God 
shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the 
name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, 
and all the congregation shall certainly stone him : as 
well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he 
blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. 

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they 
should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, 
and stone him with stones : and the children of Israel did 
as the Lord commanded Moses. 

QUESTIONS. 

For what was the son of the Israelitish woman brought to Moses ? 
--What was then done with him ?-How was he punished ? 

Practical Observations. 

The punishment here recorded of these sins of blasphemy and 
cursing is very remarkable, and ought to inspire us with a great hor¬ 
ror of such sins, of which the punishment ever will be most severe. 

What enmity against God must be in the heart of man, when cur¬ 
ses and blasphemies against him proceed out of his mouth ! And if 
be that despised Moses law died without mercy, of what punishment 
will they be thought worthy, who despise and abuse the gospel of 
the Son of God ! 

4<J4- 

CHAP. XL. 

The Jubilee. From the twenty fifth Chapter of Leviticus, 
A. M. 2514.—B. C. 1490. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, say¬ 
ing, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, 
When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


87 

the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord. Six years thou 
shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy 
vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the 
seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land ; 
a sabbath for the Lord : thou shalt neither sow thy 
field, nor prune thy vineyard. That which groweth 
of its own accord of thy harvest, thou shalt not 
reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undress¬ 
ed : for it is a year of rest unto the land. And 
the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you ; for thee, 
and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired 
servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, 
and for thy cattle, and for the beasts that are in thy land, 
shall all the increase thereof be meat. 

And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto 
thee, seven times seven years ; and the space of the seven 
sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 
Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to 
sound, on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day 
of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound through¬ 
out all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, 
and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the 
inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you ; and 
ye shall return every man unto his possession, and 
ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubilee 
shall that fiftieth year be unto you : ye shall not sow, 
neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather 
the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. It is the jubilee ; 
it shall be holy unto you : ye shall eat the increase there¬ 
of out of the field. In the year of this jubilee ye shall 
return every man unto his possession. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where did the Lord speak unto Moses ?-What time was to be 

spent in labour?--How was the seventh year to be spent ?—— 

What was every fiftieth year to be ? 

Practical Observations. 

It is a desirable privilege to have seasons of relaxation from world¬ 
ly care and employments, that we may have more leisure for the 
study of the Scriptures, and the concerns of our souls. The poor la¬ 
bourer too should be allowed them ; and our hearts should rejoice to 
see him refreshed from his toil, and enjoying the fruits of our liber¬ 
ality. All these statutes teach us, “ to beware of covetousness ; for 
a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of his possessionsto 
exercise willing dependance on Providence for our support; to be 
contented with, and thankful for, food and raiment for the present; 
and without hesitation, to leave the future to that God, whose bless- 






88 


THE BIBLICAL READER# 


ing suffices abundantly, in various ways which we cannot imagine,; 
to make up every supposed loss, which might be feared in simply 
obeying his commandments. We should also consider ourselves as 
the Lord’s tenants and stewards, if we have land or property, 
and use them accordingly : we should be not only moderate and 
temperate in our enjoyments, but kind and gentle to our inferiors, 
ready to distribute, and willing to communicate to our brethren, after 
his example, u who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became 
poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.” 

CHAP. XLI. 

Blessings and Judgments. From the tiventy sixth Chap¬ 
ter of Leviticus. A. M. 2514.—B. C. 1490. 

If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, 
and do them 5 then I will give you rain in due season, 
and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the 
Held shall yield their fruit: And your threshing shall 
reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto 
the sowing-time ; and ye shall eat your bread to the full, 
and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in 
the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you 
afraid : For I will have respect unto you, and make you 
fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant 
with you. And I will set my tabernacle among you : 
and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will w r alk among 
you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 

But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do 
all my commandments ; and if ye shall despise my stat¬ 
utes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will 
not do all my commandments, but that ye break my cove¬ 
nant ; I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain 
before your enemies : I will break the pride of your power 5 
and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as 
brass : And your strength shall be spent in vain: for 
your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the 
trees of the land yield their fruits. And I will make 
your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto deso¬ 
lation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet 
odours. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and 
will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be 
desolate, and your cities waste. 


Practical Observations. 

Our true interest and happiness consist in worshipping the Lord, 
giving him our hearts, hallowing his sabbaths, reverencing his sano 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


39 


tuary, and doing every thing with a believing regard to that Saviour, 
in whom dwelleth all the fulness “ of tiie Godhead bodily.” Our 
obedience indeed cannot justify us : but that obedience, which takes 
its rise from “ repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord 
Jesus Christ,” and consists in an humble attendance on his ordinances, 
and an unreserved respect to all his commandments, both evinces 
that we are justified, and will induce peace and spiritual consolations 
into our hearts, with the hope of glory, and the blessing of God upon 
our families and possessions; so that the most afflicted state of a con¬ 
sistent Christian is more comfortable than any ungodly prosperity. 
This frame of mind is the health of the soul, and the antipast to 
heaven, whilst God sets up ills tabernacle in us. and dwells and walks 
with us, as the sure pledge of eternal glory. But wilful sin, even in 
a Christian, will grieve the Spirit, cloud this bright prospect, and 
bring darkness and distress into the soul, as well as chastisements 
from his heavenly Father’s rod. Righteousness also exalteth a nation, 
and, amongst other blessings, ensures the continuance of the gospel 
with it. 

— 

CHAP. XLII. 

The Rebellion of Korah and his Punishment. From the 

sixteenth Chapter of Numbers. A. M. 2533.—B. C. 

1471. 

Now Korah, and Dathan, and Abiram, rose up before 
Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hun¬ 
dred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the 
congregation, men of renown : aud they gathered them¬ 
selves together against Moses, aud against Aaron, and 
said unt(?them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all 
the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the 
Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up youi- 
selves above the congregation of the Lord ? 

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face : And 
he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, 
Even to-morrow the Lord will show who are his, and 
who is holy ; and will cause him to come near unto him : 
even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come 
near unto him. This do—Be thou and all thy company 
before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow ; 
and take every man his censer, and put incense in them, 
and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two 
hundred and fifty censers thou also and Aaron each of 
you his censer. 

And they took every man his censer, and put nre in 
them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of 
the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and 
Aaron. And Korah gathered all the congregation against 

H2 


90 the biblical reAM#/, 

them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congcegaLofi i 
and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congre¬ 
gation. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, 
saying, Separate yourselves from among this congrega¬ 
tion, that I may consume them in a moment. And they 
fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the 
spirits of all llesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be 
wroth with all the congregation P 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto 
the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tab¬ 
ernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses 
rose up, and went unto Dathan and Abiram ; and the 
elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the 
Congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents 
of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye 
be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the 
tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: 
and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door 
of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their 
little children. 

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord 
hath sent me to do all these works ; for I have not done 
them of mine own mind. If these men die the common 
death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation 
of all men ; then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the 
•Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, 
and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, 
and they go down quick into the pit ; then ye shall un¬ 
derstand that these men have provoked the Lord. 

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking 
&11 these words, that the ground clave asunder that was 
Under them : and the earth opened her mouth, and swal¬ 
lowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that 
appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. Tliev, 
and all that appertained to them went down alive into 
the pit, and the earth closed upon them : and they per* 
ished from among the congregation. And all Israel that 
Were round about them, tied at the cry of them ; for they 
Said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there 
came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two 
hundred and fifty men that ofiered incense. 

QUESTIONS, 

mo rebelled against. Moses? — —Of what did they accuse Moses 
:and Aaron ?—-What did Moses tell Koruh and his company to do ? 
-wj»st 'became Pf them ? * J 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


91 


Practical Observations. 

The history of the sedition raised against Moses and Aaron, by 
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and of the terrible punishment God in¬ 
flicted upon them, and those that were joined with them, is very 
memorable ; the earth opening and swallowing up the former, and 
fire from heaven consuming the latter. This severe vengeance, 
which confirmed the authority of Moses and Aaron, shews also, that 
every one ought to abide in his calling, and submit himself to the 
order that God has established ; that none ought to assume to them¬ 
selves the honour of the ministry, nor exercise its functions, unless 
God has called them to it ; and that those who disturb the peace of 
civil society, or the order of the Church, by setting themselves up 
against those whom God has placed in authority over them, strive 
against God himself, and expose themselves to his vengeance. We 
are likewise informed in this history that Moses endeavoured to ap¬ 
pease the rebels, and did by his prayers avert the wrath of God, 
which was kindling against all the congregation : which was proof 
of the meekness of this great prophet, and of his love to those who 
had rebelled against him. Thus ought we, instead of fretting and 
wishing evil to those that injure us, to labour to bring them back to 
their duty, and intercede with God for them. 


CHAP. XLIII. 

The Children of Israel bitten by the fiery Serpents. From 
the twenty first Chapter of Numbers. A. M. 2553.—• 

* 13. C. 1451. 

And the children of Israel journeyed from mount Hor 
by the way of the Red sea, to com] ass the land of Edom : 
and the soul of the people w as much discouraged because 
of the way. And the people spake against God, and 
against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of 
Egypt to die in the wilderness P for there is no bread, 
neither is there any water ; and our soul loatheth this light 
bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, 
and they bit the people •, and much people of Israel died. 

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We 
have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and 
against thee $ pray unto the Lord, that he take away 
the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery 
serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to 
pass, that every one that is bitten, w hen he looketh upon 
it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and 

} iut it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent 
lad bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass 
he lived. 

And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in 
©both. And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


9 £ 


Ije-abarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, 
toward the sun-rising. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where did the children of Israel journey ?-What did they say 

to Moses ?-What punishment did the Lord send upon, them for 

this murmuring ?-How were the people cured P 


Practical Observations. 

From the history of the fiery serpents, we may observe, on the 
one hand, that as the Israelites fell again into their old sin of mur¬ 
muring, they drew upon themselves new plagues : by all which God 
destroyed by degrees the whole generation that came out of Egypt, 
and which was not to enter into the land of Canaan. On the other 
hand, the wonderful manner in which the people were healed of 
the biting of those serpents, by means of a brazen serpent, must 
needs convince them that it was God who sent among them the fiery 
serpents, and that he alone was their deliverer from them. But above 
all, this history ought to bring into our minds the words of our Lord, 
“ As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son 
of Man be lifted up ; that whosoever believeth in him, should not 
perish, but have everlasting lifeand what Paul says, “ Let us not 
tempt Christ as the Israelites tempted, and were destroyed of 
serpents.” We see in the brazen fiery serpents a lively figure of the 
Christian Sacraments ; and how God has shown, aird can show his 
power; and can sanctify water to the washing away of sin, and 
make bread and wine instruments of our salvation. 




CHAP. XLtV. 

Containing an Account of Balak and Balaam. From 
twenty second , twenty third , and twenty fourth Chap¬ 
ters of Numbers. A. M. 2553. —13. C. 1451. 

And the children of Israel set foward, and pitched in the 
plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Moab 
was sore afraid of the people, because they were many : 
and Moab was distressed because of the children of 
Israel. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Mo¬ 
abites at that time. He sent messengers therefore unto Ba¬ 
laam the son of Beor to Pethor, to call him, saying, Behold, 
there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover 
the face of the earth, and they abide over against me : 
Come now therefore, I pray thee, Curse me this people ; 
for they are too mighty for me : peradventure I shall 
prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive 
them out of the land : for I wot that he whom thou 
blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian depart¬ 
ed and came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words 






THE BIBLICAL READER* 


93 


of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, 
and 1 will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak 
unto me : and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are 
these with thee ? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the 
son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cov- 
ereth the tace of the earth : come now, curse me them ; 
peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive 
them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not 
go with them ; thou shalt not curse the people, for they 
are blessed. And Balaam rose up in tiie morning, and 
said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land : 
for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto 
Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 

And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more hon¬ 
ourable than they. And they came to Balaam, and said 
to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, 
I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me ; for I 
will promote thee unto very grea^honour, and I will do 
whatsoever thou sayest unto me : come, therefore, I pray 
thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered ana 
said unto the servants oi Balak, if Balak would give me 
his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the 
word of the Lord my God, to do less or mo«re. 

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this 
night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me 
more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said 
unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go 
with them ; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, 
that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning 
and went with the princes of Moab. 

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he 
went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the 
utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not 
earnestly send unto thee to call thee ? wherefore earnest 
thou not unto me ? am I not able indeed to promote thee 
to honour ? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am 
come unto thee : have I now any power at all to say any 
thing ? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall 
I speak. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took 
Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, 
that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. 


94 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 






And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, 
Thus thou shalt speak. And he took up his parable, 
and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from 
Aram out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, 
curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I 
curse, whom God hath not cursed ? or how shall I defy, 
whom the Lord hath not defied ? for from the top of the 
rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him : lo, the 
people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned 
among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, 
and the number of the fourth part of Israel ? Let me die 
the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like 
his ! 

And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done 
unto me ? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, 
thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered 
and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the 
Lord hath put in my mouth r God is not a man that he 
should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should re¬ 
pent : hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he 
spoken, and shall he net make, it good ? Behold, I have 
received commandment to bless : and he hath blessed, 
and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in 
Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel : the 
Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is 
among them. God brought them out of Egypt : he hath 
as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely there is 
no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divi¬ 
nation against Israel: according to this time it shall be 
said ol Jacob, and of Israel, What hath God wrought? 
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift 
up himself as a young lion : he shall not lie down until he 
eat ol the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abid¬ 
ing in his tents according to their tribes, and the spirit 
of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, 
and said, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy 
tabernacles, O Israel ! as the valleys are they spread 
forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees which 
the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the wa¬ 
ters. God brought him forth out of Egypt; he 
hath as it were the strength of an unicorn : he shall eat 
up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, 
and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, 


95 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 

lie lay down as a lion, and as a great lion : who shall stir 
him up ? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is 
he that curseth thee. 

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and 
he smote his hands together : and Balak said unto Bala¬ 
am, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, 
thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 
Therefore, now flee thou to thy place : I thought to pro¬ 
mote thee unto great honour ; but lo, the Lord hath kept 
thee back from honour. 

And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy 
messengers which thou senlest unto me, saying, If Balak 
would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot 
go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either 
good or bad of mine own mind ; but what the Lord saith, 
that will I speak ? There shall come a Star out of Jacob, 
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the 
corners of Moab, and destroy all tiie children of Sheth. 
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a pos¬ 
session for his enemies $ and Israel shall do valiantly. 
Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and 
shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And Ba¬ 
laam rose up, and went, and returned to his place : and 
Balak also went his way. 


QUESTIONS. 

Who was Balak ?-What message did he send to Balaam ?- 

What did Balaam say to the princes of Balak?-What did Balaam 

do when he came to Balak ?-How was Balak affected when Ba¬ 

laam blessed IsraelP 


Practical Observations. 

We may observe from this chapter, that although Balak used his 
utmost endeavors to make Balaam curse the children of Israel, and 
though Balaam, allured by the promises of that prince, would have 
been really glad to do it, yet God did not. permit him, but, on the 
contrary, obliged him to bless them. This shews that God always 
rules over the wicked, that lie does not suffer them to do his children 
that harm which they desire ; nay, that he makes use of them to do 
them good. Balaam’s repeated blessings, and all that he said in fa¬ 
vour of the children of Israel, should have convinced the Moabites 
that they were the favorites of Heaven, and that nothing can hurt 
those whom God loves and designs to bless. 

The case of Balaam furnishes a very striking instance of that in¬ 
consistency into which irreligious and worldly minded persons fre¬ 
quently fall. Although preferring the wages of unrighteousness, he 
still exclaims, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last 
end be like his ! In view of such an inconsistency, let us firmly per¬ 
suade ourselves of this fundamental truth, that there is a state of just 








96 THE BIBLICAL READER. 

retribution after the expiration of the short term we have here ; and 
that this life is but a state of probation, in which, according as we 
acquit ourselves, so shall we be consigned to everlasting happiness 
or misery hereafter. And let this convince us, how nearly, how 
vastly it concerns us, to make the best improvement of that propor¬ 
tion of time which is here allotted to us. Let us consider that our 
eternity depends upon it; and therefore let us make it the business 
of our whole lives to prepare for that great change, which we must 
undergo by death. Let us not flatter ourselves with fond and falla¬ 
cious hopes, that this preparation may be sufficiently made, and all 
danger seasonably enough provided against, by the disturbed and 
confused thoughts which the nearer apprehension and approach of 
death is wont to excite. 

44 «- 

CHAP. XLV. 

Moses dissuadeth the Children of Israel against Self- 

Righteousness. From the ninth Chapter of Deuteron¬ 
omy. A. M. 2553.—B. C. 1451. 

Hear, O Israel : Thou art to pass over Jordan this 
day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than 
thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven. Understand 
therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which, 
goeth over before thee ; as a consuming fire he shall 
destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy 
face : so shall thou drive them out, and destroy them, 
quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee. Speak not 
thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God 
hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For 
my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to pos¬ 
sess this land : but for the wickedness of these nations 
the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for 
thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart 
dost thou go to possess their land : but for the wickedness 
of these nations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out 
from before thee, and that he may perform the word which 
the Lord sware unto thy. fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob. Understand, therefore, that the Lord thy God 
giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy right¬ 
eousness •, for thou art a still-necked people. Remember, 
and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to 
wrath in the wilderness : from the day that thou didst 
depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this 
place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. Also in 
Horeb ye provoked the Lord to wrath, so that the Lord 
was angry with you to have destroyed you. I prayed 
therefore unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, destroy 
not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


9 7 


redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought 
forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember thy 
servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; look not unto the 
stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor 
to their sin ; lest the land whence thou broughtest us 
out, say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them 
into the land which he promised them, and because he 
hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the 
wilderness. Yet they are thy people and thine inheri¬ 
tance which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and 
by thy stretched out arm. 


Practical Observations. 

It may be thought, that the Jews, being God’s chosen people, 
ought to be found superior in benevolence, as y»eii as every other 
virtue, to the rest ot mankind. But it must ever be remembered 
what God himself frequently declares, that it was not for their “own 
sakes,” for their own “ righteousness,” that they were chosen, but 
for other reasons ; for preserving the knowledge, and promoting the 
worship of the one true God; for manifesting his Divine power in 
the working of miracles, and for executing his judgments on those 
impenitent" nations, whose enormous wickedness was then ripe for 
vengeance. The moral goodness therefore of the Jews being no pecu¬ 
liar object of God’s choice, we are not on that account merely to ex¬ 
pect from them any uncommon degrees of virtue, or any exemption 
from the reigning vices of their age. 

Of all the attributes of God, forbearance, perhaps, is that which we 
have most to acknowledge. We cannot want occasions to bring the 
remembrance of it to our thoughts. Have there not been occasions, 
in which, ensnared by vice, we might have been detected and expos¬ 
ed ; have been crushed by punishment or shame ; have been irre¬ 
coverably ruined ? occasions in which we might have been suddenly 
stricken with death, in a state of soul the most unfit for it that was 
possible ? That we were none of these, that we have been preserved 
from these dangers, that our sin was not our destruction, that instant 
judgment did not overtake us, is to be attributed to the long suffer¬ 
ing of God. We were not destroyed., when we might have been 
destroyed ; and when we merited destruction, we have been reserved 
for further trial. This is, or ought to be, a touching reflection. How 
deeply therefore does it behoove us, not to trifle with the patience 
of God, not to abuse this enlarged space, this respited, protracted 
season of repentance, by plunging afresh into the same crimes, or oth¬ 
er, or greater crimes ? It shows that we are not wrought upon by 
mercy ; that our gratitude is not moved; that things are wrong 
within us ; that there is a deplorable void and chasm in our religious 
principles, the love of God not being present in our hearts. 

I 




m 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. XLVI. 

Jin Exhortation to Obedience . From the tenth and elev¬ 
enth Chapters of Deuteronomy . A. M. 2553.—,B. C. 

1451. 

And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require 
of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his 
ways, and to lore him, and to serve the Lord thy God 
with all thy heart and with all thy soul 5 to keep the com¬ 
mandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I com¬ 
mand thee this day for thy good ? Behold, the heaven 
and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the 
earth also, with all that therein is. Only the Lord had 
a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their 
seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this 
day. Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your heart, 
and be no more stiff-necked. For the Lord your God is 
God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, 
and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh 
reward : He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless 
and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food 
and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger : for ye 
were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear 
the Lord thy God, him shalt thou serve, and to him 
shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy 
praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these 
great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen. 
Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and 
ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath made thee 
_as the stars of heaven for multitude. 

Therefore shall yc keep all the commandments which I 
command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in 
.and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; and 
that ye may prolong your days in the land which the 
Lord sware unto your fathers to give unto them, and to 
their seed, aland that floweth with milk and heney. For 
the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the 
land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou 
sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a 
garden of herbs : But the land, whither ye go to possess 
it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the 
rain of heaven : a land which the Lord thy Godcarethfor : 
the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the 
beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. 

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


99 

unto my commandments which I command you this day, 
to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all 
your heart, with all your soul, that I will give you the rain 
ol your land in his due season, the tirst rain, and the latter 
rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine, and 
thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, 
that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, 
that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and 
serve other gods, and worship them. And then the 
Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the 
heaven, that there he no rain, and that the land yield 
not her fruit ; and lest ye perish quickly from off the 
good land which the Lord giveth you. 

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart, 
and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, 
that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye 
shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou 
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, 
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou 
shalt write them upon the door -posts of thine house, 
and upon thy gates ; that your days may be multiplied, 
and the days of your children, in the land which the 
Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days 
of heaven upon the earth. 


Practical Observations, 

The true principles of Christian obedience, as they are every where 
set forth in Scripture, are the love and fear of God—which are so far 
from being inconsistent with each other, that they are inseparable; 
the one deterring us from sin, the other exciting us to virtue and 
righteousness. They are both put together in these expressive words, 
in which Moses sums up bis exhortation to the Israelites—“ And now 
what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy 
God, to walk in his ways, and to love him, and to serve him, and to 
serve the Lord tiwGod with all thy heart and with all thy soul ?” The 
royal preacher concludes his discourse to the same effect, but more 
shortly, thus—■“ Fear God, and keep his commandments ; for this is 
the whole duty,” or the whole business, u of man.” And St. John 
tells us, “ this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” 

**** 9 ^} 9 *<*~ 

CHAP. XLVII. 

The Blessings of Obedience. From, the twenty eighth 

Chapter of Deuteronomy. A. M. 2553.—B. C. 1451. 

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken dili¬ 
gently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe 
and to do all his commandments which I command thee 

tore, 



100 THE BIBLICAL READER. 

this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high 
above all nations of the earth : And all these blessings 
shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if t.hon shall heark¬ 
en unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt. 
thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the tield.^ 
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of 
thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of 
thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall 
be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when 
thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest. 
out. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up 
against thee to be smitten before thy face : they shall 
come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven 
ways. The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee 
in thy store-houses, and in all that thou settest thine 
hand unto : and he shall bless thee in the land which the 
Lord thy God giveth thee. The Lord shall establish 
thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto 
thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord 
thy God, and walk in his ways. And all people of the 
earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the 
Lord ; and they shall be afraid of thee. And the Lord 
shall make thee plenteous in goods, and in the fruit of 
thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy 
fathers to give thee. The Lord shall open unto thee 
his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy 
land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine 
hand ; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou 
shalt not borrow. And thou shalt not go aside from any 
of the w ords which I command thee this day, to the right 
hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. 


Practical Observations. 



All events are absolutely at the disposal of God, all creatures are 
his servants. If he determine to bless us, he can grant us health, 
riches, and reputation, and give fruitful fields, flourishing families, 
and peaceful habitations : lie communicates every temporal good, 
with the ordinances of his courts, and the graces of his spirit. He 
can even connect great honour with deep humility, and give success 
in every undertaking, comfort in every connexion, and abundance of 
all things with a thankful, liberal, and spiritual mind ; yet all this is 
very little compared with that future, everlasting, and complete 
felicity, in the contemplation of which, our thoughts and our lan¬ 
guage are absolutely swallowed up. 



T[f£ biblical reader. 


101 


CHAP. XLVIII. 

Joshua succeeds Moses and conducts the Children of Israel 
over Jordan. From the first , second , and third Chap¬ 
ters of Joshua. A. M 2533.—B. C. 1451. 

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, 
it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son 
of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is 
dead ; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, 
and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, 
even to the children ot Israel. Be strong and of a good 
courage: tor unto this people shalt thou divide for an inher¬ 
itance the land which I swareunto their fathers togive them. 

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 
saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, 
saying, Prepare you victuals $ for within three days ye 
shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land 
which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. And 
Joshua rose early in the morning, and came to Jordan, 
he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before 
they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, 
that the officers went through the host; and they com¬ 
manded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Le- 
vites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, 
and go after it. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanc¬ 
tify yourselves, for to-morrow the Lord will do wonders 
among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, 
Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before 
the people ; and they took up the ark of the covenant, 
and went before the people. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin 
to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may 
know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. 
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of 
the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of 
the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan. 

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come 
hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God. And 
Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is 
among you—behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord 
of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 

And it came to pass, when the people removed from their 
tents to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the 
ark of the covenant before the people ; and as they 
that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of 

I £ 




m 


THE BIBLICAL READER.. 


the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim oi 
the water, that the waters which came down from above 
stood and rose up upon an heap: and those that came 
down toward the sea failed and were cut off: and the peo¬ 
ple passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that 
bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry 
ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites pass¬ 
ed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed 
clean over Jordan. 

And it came to pass, when all the people were clean 
passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, 
saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of 
every tribe a man, and command ye them, saying, Take 
you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place 
where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye 
shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the 
lodging-place where ye shall lodge this night. 

Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had pre¬ 
pared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man : 
and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the 
Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up 
every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according 
unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel : 
That this may be a sign among you that when your chil¬ 
dren ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What 
mean ye by these stones P then ye shall answer them, 
That the waters of Jordan were cut oft’ before the ark of 
the covenant of the Lord ; when it passed over Jordan, 
the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall 
be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. 

And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, 
and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, 
as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number 
of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them 
over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid 
them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the 
midst of Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests 
which bare the ark of the covenant stood : and they are 
there unto this day. 

QUESTIONS. 

Whose son was Joshua ?—Who carried the ark ?—What took 
place with the waters as soon as the priests dipped their feet in them? 
-What did Joshua do for a memorial of this event ? 


Practical Observations. 

This world is a dreary wilderness ; and, although nourished with 
the bread of heaven and the waters of life from the rock of salva- 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 105 

Hon, Christians are often weary of their toilsome pilgrimage. And 
if they are able to keep the eye of faith on the Saviour, and on the 
inheritance provided for them in heaven, they may meet death in its 
most awful forms, without terror. 

Let us then treasure up our experiences of his faithful and tender 
care in the whole course of our lives, that they may come in aid to 
our faith and hope in this last conflict: let us carefully consider the 
examples of others, whose happy death we witness, or of which we 
read and hear, to allay our fears, and encourage our hearts ; let us 
prepare daily for this important season, by faith and repentance, and 
a conscientious attention to the duties of our station ; and let us 
watch and pray against anxious or distressing fears. The Lord will 
provide for our passage over this Jordan, when the time comes j 
yea, he will come and meet us, and by his animating presence invig¬ 
orate our faith and hope, till we join the innumerable multitude, that 
in the Canaan above are singing the praises of their great Deliverer, 
who hath both redeemed them from Egyptian bondage, and brought 
them safe to the promised land, through his precious blood, and by 
his all conquering arm. 

CHAP. XLIX. 

The two Tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of 

Manasseh build an Altar. From the twenty second 

Chapter of Joshua. A. M. 2561.-—B. C. 1443. 

And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, 
and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed 
from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the 
land of Canaan, to go into the country of Gilead, to the 
land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, ac¬ 
cording to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 

And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that 
are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, and 
the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, built 
there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. 

And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the 
children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the 
half-tribe of Manasseh, have built an altar over against 
the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the pas¬ 
sage of the children of Israel. And when the children 
of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the chil¬ 
dren of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to 
go up to war against them. 

And the children of Israel sent unto the children of 
Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half¬ 
tribe of Manasseh into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the 
son of Eleazer the priest, and with him ten princes, of 
each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of 
Israel •, and each one was an head of the house of their fa¬ 
thers among the thousands of Israel. 


104 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to 
the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, 
unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, say¬ 
ing, Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, 
What trespass is this that ye have committed against the 
God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the 
Lord, in that ye have budded you an altar, that ye 
might rebel this day against the Lord ? Is the iniquity of 
Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed 
until this day, although there was a plague in the con¬ 
gregation of the Lord, but that ye must turn away this 
day from following the Lord ? and it will be, seeing ye 
rebel to-day against the Lord, that to-morrow he will be 
wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. 

Then the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, 
and the half-tribe of Manasseh, answered and said unto 
the heads of the thousands of Israel : The Lord God of 
gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he 
shall know ; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression 
against the Lord, save us not this day, that we have built 
us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer 
thereon burnt-offering, or meat-offering, or if to offer 
peace-offerings thereon, let the Lord himself require it •, 
and if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, 
saying, In time to come your children might speak unto 
our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord 
God of Israel ? For the Lord hath made Jordan a border 
between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children 
of Gad ; ye have no part in the Lord. So shall your chil¬ 
dren make our children cease from fearing the Lord. 

Therefore w'e said, Let us now prepare to build us an 
altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice : but that it 
may be a witness between us, and you, and our genera¬ 
tions after us, that we might do the service of the Lord 
before him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacri¬ 
fices, and with our peace offerings ; that your children 
may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no 
part in the Lord. God forbid that we should rebel 
against the Lord, and turn this day from following the 
Lord, to build an altar for burnt-offerings, for meat-offer¬ 
ings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the Lord our 
God that is before his tabernacle. 

And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the 
congregation, and heads of the thousands of Israel which 
were with him, heard the words that the children of Reu- 


the biblical reader. 


105 


ben, and the children of Gad, and the children of Manas- 
seh, spake, it pleased them. And Phinehas the son of 
Llea'zar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and 
to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, 
Ahis day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because 
ye havti not committed this trespass against the Lord : 
now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the 
hand of the Lord. 

And Phinehas the son of Elea'zar the priest, and the 
princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from 
the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto 
the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and 
brought them word again. And the thing pleased 
the children of Israel ; and the children of Israel bless¬ 
ed God, and did not intend to go up against them in 
battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reu¬ 
ben and Gad dwelt. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where did the two tribes and half build an altar P-What did 

the children of Israel do when they heard of it? ■■—Why did the 

children of Israel propose to make war against them ?-How were 

they affected when told for what purpose the altar was built ? 


Practical Observations. 

We ought constantly to watch against a disposition to rash judg¬ 
ment, uncandid surmises, and harsh reproofs; and cultivate and 
pray for the contrary spirit: but if it prove our trial to be rebuked 
with severity, and loaded with calumny, we should be thankful for 
the testimony of our consciences, and for confidence in appealing to 
our heart searching Judge, that we are misrepresented or misunder¬ 
stood. And if-the Lord knoweth our innocence, Israel shall know it 
in due time ; for when our consciences are clear, he will at length 
clear our character, which we may therefore safely commit to his 
keeping. While exposed to this trial, we ought cautiously to avoid 
all recriminations, to speak with mildness and seriousness, and be 
ready to offer such explanations, as may obviate misconstructions, 
and satisfy the minds of our pious and candid brethren : and what¬ 
ever has been wrong or suspicious, we should be willing to alter. 
But charity hopeth all things, and rejoiceth not in iniquity : and they 
who “ abound in this grace also,” will be glad to find themselves mis¬ 
taken, in the unfavorable opinion of their brethren which they reluc¬ 
tantly entertained ; and will bless God for evidences of their faith and 

piety- 

Happy will it be when all professed Christians shall learn, in their 
differences, to copy the example of Israel recorded in this chapter ; 
and to unite real and steady adherence to the cause of truth, with 
candor, and meekness, a readiness to understand each other, to ex¬ 
plain, and be satisfied with the sufficient explanations and conces¬ 
sions of their brethren.—When will Christians remember, “ that by 
this shall all men know the disciples of Christ, when they have love 
one for another ?” May the Lord increase the number of those, who 





106 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


{ ‘ endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ;" 
and may increasing grace and consolation be with all who love 
Jesus Christ in sincerity,” by whatever name they are distinguished. 


CHAP. L. 



Death of Joshua , and his Exhortation to the Children oj 
Israel. From the. twenty third and twenty fourth Chap¬ 
ters of Joshua. A. M. 2561.—13. C. 1443. 


And it came to pass, a long time after that the Lord 
had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round 
about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And 
Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and 
for their heads, and for their judges, and for their offi¬ 
cers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age-: 
And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done 
unto all these nations because of you : for the Lord your 
God is he that hath fought for you. 

Take good heed therefore unto yourselves that ye love 
the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, 
and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these 
that remain among you, Know for a certainty that the 
Lord your God will no more drive out any of these 
nations from before you ; but they shall be snares and 
traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in 
your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which 
the Lord your God hath given you. And behold, this 
day I am going the way of all the earth ; and ye know in 
all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing 
hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your 
God spake concerning you ; all are come to pass unto 
y r ou, and not one thing hath failed thereof. 

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity 
and in truth ; and put away the gods which your fathers 
served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt $ and 
serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to 
serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will 
serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that 
were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the 
Ainorites in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my 
house, we will serve the Lord. 

And the people answered, and said, God forbid that 
we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods $ for 
the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up, and our 
fathers, out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bon- 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


107 


tlns^c, and which did those great signs in our sight, and 
preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among 
all the people through whom we passed: therefore 
will we also serve the Lord ; for he is our God. And 
Joshua said unto the people. Ye cannot serve the Lord : 
for he is an holy God ; he is a jealous God ; he will net 
forgive your transgressions, nor your sins. If ye for¬ 
sake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn 
and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath 
done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay ; 
but we will serve the Lord. And Joshua said unto the 
people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have 
chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We 
are witnesses. 

And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the 
son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hun¬ 
dred and ten years old. And Israel served the Lord all 
the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that 
overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of 
the Lord that he had done for Israel. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Joshua say to Israel on calling them together ?-What 

did he exhort the people to do ?-What reply did they make ?■■ . 

Ilow old was Joshua when he died ? 


Practical Observations. 

In all this exhortation, we see how closely Joshua copies the ex¬ 
ample of his great master, Moses; he was tenderly concerned for 
the welfare of the people ; and with a deeply affected heart, he spoke 
to their hearts. No people were ever more fairly and fully warned \ 
and no people profited less by it. The threatenings pronounced 
here, were accomplished in the Babylonish captivity ; but more fully, 
in their general dispersion since the crucifixion of our kord. And 
should not every Christian fear when he reads, T f God spared not 
the natural branches, take heed that he spare not thee ? Surely a 
worldly, carnal, and godless Christian, has no more reason to expect 
indulgence from the justice of God, than a profligate Jew. We have 
a goodly land, but the justice of God can decree a captivity from it, 
or a state of bondage in it. The privileges that are abused, are 
thereby forfeited. And this is as applicable to the individual, as to 
the whole system. 

Joshua’s exhortations to the children of Israel before his death, 
area proof of his great seal and piety, .an argument of his sincere 
affection for that people ; and show how much he had at heart the 
preservation of true religion among them after his death. Those 
who are appointed rulers of the people, should improve by so noble 
an example ; and learn from hence that it should be their chief care 
and concern to support the cause of piety and religion in their own 
time, and provide for its support among those who come after them. 




108 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


These remonstrances of Joshua teach us likewise that a firm adhe¬ 
rence to the service of God and obedience to his laws is the only way 
to secure the happiness of a nation, as on the contrary disobedience 
and ungodliness deprive men of the divine blessing, and bring God’s 
judgments upon them. 


CHAP. LI. 


The Song of Deborah and Barak. From the fifth Chap¬ 
ter of Judges. A. M. 2708.—B. C. 1296. 

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abin'oam on 
that day, saying, Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of 
Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 
Hear, O ye kings ; give ear, O ye princes ; I, even I, 
will sing unto the Lord ; I will sing praise to the Lord 
God of Israel. Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, 
when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth 
trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also drop¬ 
ped water. The mountains melted from before the Lord, 
even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel. My 
heart is towards the governors of Israel that offered them¬ 
selves willingly among the people: Bless ye the Lord. 
Speak ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 
Awake, awake, Deborah ; awake, awake, utter a song: 
arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of 
Abin'oam. Then he made him that remaineth have do¬ 
minion over the nobles among the people : the Lord 
made me have dominion over the mighty. Why abodest 
thou among the sheep-folds, to hear the bleatings of the 
flocks ? For the divisions of Reuben there were great 
searchings of heart. Gilead abode beyond Jordan : and 
why did Dan remain in ships P Asher continued on the 
sea-shore, Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeop¬ 
arded their lives unto the death in the high places of the 
field. The kings came and fought by the waters of Me- 
gid'do 5 they took no gain of money. They fought from 
heaven ; the stars in their courses fought against Sis'era. 
The river of Ki'shon swept them away, that ancient river, 
the river Ki'shon. 0 my soul, thou hast trodden down 
strength. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, 
curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof ; because they 
came not to the help ot the Lord, to the help of the Lord 
against the mighty. Blessed above women shall Jael the 
wife of Heber the Ken'ite be, blessed shall she be above 
women in the tent. He asked water, and she gave i itn 
milk j she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. She 


THE BIBLICAL READEB. 


109 


put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the work¬ 
man’s hammer $ and with the hammer she smote Sis'era, 
she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken 
through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay 
down: ather feet hebowed, he fell: where he bowed, there 
he fell down dead. The mother of Sis'era looked out at a 
window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his char¬ 
iot so long in coming P why tarry the wheels of his char¬ 
iots ? Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned 
answer to herself, Have they not sped ? have they not 
divided the prey ; to every man a damsel or two ; to 
Sis'era a prey of divers colours; a prey of divers colours 
of needle-work, of divers colours of needle-work on both 
sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil ? 
So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord : but let them 
that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his 
might. And the land had rest forty years. 


Practical Observations. 

The song of Deborah shows, that that woman was as famous for 
her piety and zeal, as for her courage and conduct; wherein she 
may serve for an example, not only to persons of her own sex, but to 
all that are in authority ; and teach them to trust in God alone, and 
give him the glory of all their success. It appears also from hence, 
that the custom of singing publick hymns of praise to God for signal 
mercies received, was very ancient; which should excite our zeal 
and gratitude, not only for the temporal favours we receive, but espe¬ 
cially for spiritual blessings and deliverances; referring all to the 
power and goodness of God, praising and blessing him in a publick 
and solemn manner. 

•» » 

CHAP. LII. 

History of Ruth. From the first and second Chapters 
of Ruth. About B. C. 1250. 

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges rul¬ 
ed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain 
man went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his 
wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was 
Elim'elech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the 
name of his two sons Mahlon and Chili'on, E'phrathites of 
Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of 
Moab, and continued there. And Elim'elech Naomi’s 
husband died 5 and she was left, and her two sons. 
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the 
name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other 

K 



110 


THE BlfeLICAL READER. 


Ruth : and they dwelled there about ten years. And* 
Mahlon and Chili'on died also both of them; and the 
woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she 
might return from the country of Moab : tor she had 
heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visit-’ 
ed his people in giving them bread. And they went on the 
way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said 
unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her 
mother’s house : the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye 
have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord grant 
you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her 
husband. Then she kissed them ; and they lifted up 
their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely 
we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi 
said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with 
me ? 

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And Or- 
pah kissed her mother-in-law ; but Ruth clave unto her. 
And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back un¬ 
to her people, and unto her gods : return thou after thy 
sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave 
thee, or to return from following after thee : for whither 
thou goest, I will go ; and where thou lodgest, I will 
lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God : 
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried : 
the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death 
part thee and me. W r hen she saw that she was stead¬ 
fastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto 
her. 

So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. 
And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth¬ 
lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they 
said, is this Naomi P And she said unto them, Call me 
not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt 
very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord 
hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye 
me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, 
and the Almighty hath afflicted me r So Noami returned, 
and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, 
which returned out of the country of Moab : and they 
came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley-harvest. 

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty 
man of wealth, and his name was Boaz. And Ruth the 







Ruth’s return to Naomi 













































































THE BlBLtCAL READER. 


Ill 


Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, 
and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall 
find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 
And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after 
the reapers. 

And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said 
unto his reapers. The Lord be with you. And they an¬ 
swered him, The Lord bless thee. Then said Boaz unto 
his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel 
is this ? And the servant that was set over the reapers 
answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came 
back with Naomi; and she said, I pray you, let me glean 
and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. 

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my 
daughter ? Go not to glean in another field, neither go 
from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens : let 
thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou 
after them : Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself 
to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace 
in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, 
seeing I am a stranger ? 

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully 
been showed me, aii that thou hast done unto thy moth¬ 
er-in-law since the death of thine husband : and how thou 
hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy 
nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest 
not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a 
full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under 
whose wings thou art come to trust. Then she said, Let 
me find favour in thy sight, my lord •, for that thou hast 
comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto 
thine hand-maid. 

And Boaz said unto her, At meal-time come thou hith¬ 
er, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vine- 

f ar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached 
er parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed. 

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded 
his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the 
sheaves, and reproach her not •, and let fall also some of 
the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she 
may glean them, and rebuke her not. So she gleaned in 
the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: 
and it was about an ephah of barley. 

And she took it up, and went into the city : and her 
mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she 
brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after 


112 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


she was sufficed. And her mother-in-law said unto her* 
Where hast thou gleaned to-day ? and where wroughtest 
thou P blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. 
And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she 
had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I 
wrought to-day, is Boaz. And Naomi said unto her 
daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not 
left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And 
Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, 
one of our next kinsmen. It is good, my daughter, that 
thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in 
any other field. So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz. 
to glean unto the end of barley-harvest and of wheat har¬ 
vest 5 and dwelt with her mother-in-law. 

QUESTIONS. 

How was Ruth related to Naomi ?-What was the name of 

Ruth’s sister-in-law ?-What did Naomi say to them when her 

sons died ?-What rich kinsman had Naomi ? ■ - How came he 

to become acquainted with Ruth ? 

. * - 

Practical Observations. 

The virtue and piety of Naomi are well deserving of attention, who, 
when she had lost her husband and her two sons in a strange land, 
preserved a tender affection for her twov'flaughters-in-law, though 
they were women of Moab ; and bore with patience and resignation 
the several afflictions with which the Lord was pleased to visit her, 
.in the loss of her husband and sons, and returned to her own country, 
as soon as she could, to worship God according to the law. 

Educated in the school of affliction, and called to penury by him, 
who at his pleasure divideth to every one as he will, Ruth goes forth 
to glean in the fields of Boaz. The divine Providence which con¬ 
ducted her thither, gives her an early recompence for her love and 
duty to Naomi. From the reapers she experiences kindness; from 
their lord, generosity, protection,friendship. Even this was a presage 
of her better estate. She returns wealthy with her ephah of barley, 
and blesses the liberality of her benefactor. Wisely did Naomi counsel 
her not to be seen in any other field while the harvest lasted. A grate¬ 
ful acceptance offavours is in some measure a requital of them. The 
God of heaven bestows on us his most precious gifts. O let us not 
desert him, nor turn to the world, which can only afford us vanity and 
vexation of spirit. 

CHAP. LIII. 

Birth of Samuel , and Song of Hannah. From the first 
and second Chapters of the first Book of Samuel. 
A. M. about 2839.*—B. C. 1165. 

Now there was a man of Mount Ephraim, and his name 
was Elkanah $ and Hannah his wife bare a son, and call¬ 
ed his name Samuel, saying, I have asked him of the Lord. 









THE BIBLICAL READER 


113 


And the man Elkanah, and all Ills house, went up to 
offer unto the Lord the yearly sacritice, and his vow. 
But Hannah went not up ; for she said unto her husband, 

I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I 
will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, 
and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband 
said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good ; tarry until 
thou have weaned him ; only the Lord establish his word. 

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with 
her, unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh : and the child 
was young. And they brought the child to Eli. And she 
said, O my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the 
woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. 
For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me 
my petition which I asked of him : Therefore also I 
have lent him to the Lord ; as long as he livetli he shall 
be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. 
And Hannah prayed, and said. My heart rejoiceth in the 
Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord ; my mouth is 
enlarged over mine enemies $ because I rejoice in thy 
salvation. There is none holy as the Lord : for there is 
none besides thee : neither is there any rock like our God. 
Talk no more so exceeding proudly: let not arrogancy 
come out of your mouth : for the Lord is a God of knowl¬ 
edge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of 
the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are 
girded with strength. They that were full have hired 
out themselves for bread ; and they that were hungry 
ceased : The Lord killeth, and maketh alive : he bring- 
eth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord 
maketh poor, and maketh rich : he bringeth low, and 
lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and 
lifteth up the begger to set them among princes, and to 
make them inherit the throne of glory : for the pillars of 
the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon 
them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the 
wicked shall be silent in darkness ; for by strength shall 
no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be 
broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon 
them : the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth ; and 
lie shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of 
his anointed. 

But Samuel ministered before the Lord, bein^ a child, 
girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made 
him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to 

K 2 


114 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


year, when she came up with her husband, to offer the? 
yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, 
and they went unto their own home. And the child 
Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, 
and also with men. 

QUESTIONS. 

Whose son was Samuel ?-To whom did Hannah carry him on 

being weaned ?-Why did she lend him to the Lord P-What 

religious act did he perform himself when a child ? 


Practical Observations. 

The song of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and her publick sol¬ 
emn thanksgiving to God at Shiloh, are a new proof of her piety, 
and teach us to express our gratitude, and bless the Lord when he 
grants us any signal favour. We learn particularly in this song, 
that Providence overrules all things, that God confounds the proud j 
that he takes care of the weak and afflicted who fear him ; that he 
protects them, and hears their prayers. This is a doctrine full of 
comfort and consolation to good men, supporting them in their trials, 
and leading them to holiness and trust in God. The case of Samuel 
may be urged as an inducement to early piety. Even the feeble at¬ 
tempts of children to serve God, are noticed with condescending re¬ 
gard, as peculiarly pleasing to him} and it is his standing declara¬ 
tion, that those who seek him early shall find him. What, too, can 
be more lovely than to see children and youth consecrate to God 
that breath, which he gave and continually imparts to them ? 

“tQt i • 

CHAP. LIV. 

God makes a Revelation to Samuel concerning Eli. From 

the third Chapter of the first Book of Samuel. A. M. 

2863. —B. C. 1141. 

And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before 
Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those 
days ; there was no open vision. And it came to pass 
at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and 
his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see. And 
ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, 
where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to 
sleep ; that the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, 
Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am 
I ; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not ; lie 
down again. And he went and lay down. And the 
Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and 
went to Eli, and said, Here am I ; for thou didst call 
me. And he answered, I called not, my son ; lie down 
again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, 
neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


115 


And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And 
he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I ; for thou 
didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had 
called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, 
lie down : and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt 
say, Speak, Lord ; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel 
went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, 
and stood and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. 
Then Samuel answered, Speak ; for thy servant heareth. 
And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing 
in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that 
heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform 
against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning 
his house : when I begin I will also make an end. For 
I have told him, that I will judge his house for ever, for 
the iniquity which he knoweth : because his sons made 
themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And 
therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the 
iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice 
nor offering for ever. And Samuel lay until the morn¬ 
ing, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord : and 
Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. Then Eli called 
Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered* 
Here am I. And he said, What is the thing that the 
Lord hath said unto thee P I pray thee hide it not from 
me : God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any 
thing from me, of all the things that he said unto thee. 
And Samuel told him every whit and hid nothing from 
him. And he said, It is the Lord : let him do what 
seemeth him good. And Samuel grew, and the Lord 
was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the 
ground. And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, 
knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the 
Lord. 

QUESTIONS. 

Before whom did Samuel minister unto the Lord P-What did 

he say when the Lord called him ?-For what was the house of 

Eli to be punished ?-What did Eli say when Samuel made the 

vision known unto him ? 


Practical Observations. 

This answer of Eli was truly humble, and humility never appears 
more sincere than when it disposes us, with an unreserved submis¬ 
sion, and perfect resignation, to accept whatever God is pleased to 
inflict upon us for our sins. In the mouth of Eli, this declaration 
seems as sincere as it was humble. For although he had grievously 
offended God, by conniving at his sons’ abominable actions, and 
not restraining them by his judicial or parental authority, neverthe- 





116 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


less, the meek submission he expresses for the Divine sentence pro¬ 
nounced against himself and his family, and the testimony he after¬ 
wards gave of his much greater concern for the taking of God's ark, 
than for the death of the two sons whom he had so much indulged, 
makes it probable that, though a weak man, he was truly humble 
and pious. 

■—♦ft#®*"' 

CHAP. LV. 

The Israelites repent at Mizpeh , arid the Philistines sub¬ 
dued. From the seventh Chapter of the first Book of 
Samuel A. M. 2864.— B. C. 1140. 

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, 
If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then 
put away the strange gods, and Ashtaroth, from among 
you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve 
him only : and he will deliver you out of the hand of the 
Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away 
Ba'alim, and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. And 
Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will 
pray for you unto the Lord. And they gathered togeth¬ 
er to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before 
the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We 
have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the 
children of Israel in Mizpeh. 

And when the Philistines heard that the children of 
Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of 
the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the 
children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Phil¬ 
istines. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, 
Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he 
will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 

And Samuel took a lamb, and offered it for a burnt- 
offering wholly unto the Lord : and Samuel cried unto 
the Lord for Israel ; and the Lord heard him. And as 
Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines 
drew near to battle against Israel : but the Lord thun¬ 
dered with a great thunder on that day upon the 
Philistines, and discomfited them : and they were smit¬ 
ten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of 
Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, 
until they came under Beth-car. 

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh 
and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, say¬ 
ing, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. So the Philis¬ 
tines were subdued, and they came no more into the 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


11 7 


coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against 
the Philistines all the days of Samuel. And the cities 
which the Philistines had taken from Israel were res¬ 
tored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath ; and the 
coast thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the 
Philistines : and there was peace between Israel and the 
Amorites. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his 
life. 

QUESTIONS. 

At what place did Samuel direct the Israelites to gather themselves 

together ?-What did they do when assembled together ?-By 

what miracle were the Israelites discomfited ?-What did Samuel 

then do ? 


Practical Observations. 

The victory gained by the people of Israel over the Philistines, 
after they had been reconciled to God by humiliation, confession of 
sins, and fasting, and had put away their idols, teaches us, that God is 
always ready to be appeasedy as soon as men sincerely humble them¬ 
selves and forsake their sins. We see likewise in this history, that the 
people, terrified at the approach of the Philistines, had recourse to the 
intercession of Samuel, who, by his prayers and sacrifices, obtained 
a miraculous victory, and that the Philistines, affrighted and dispers¬ 
ed by a dreadful thunder, were so defeated that they never more as¬ 
saulted the people of Israel while Samuel lived. The greatest bless¬ 
ing any people can enjoy, is to have wise rulers, and such as fear 
God: the prayers of good men, and of the faithful servants of God, 
are of great efficacy ; and for their sakes God often spares and bless¬ 
es a nation. Lastly, the care that Samuel took to administer justice 
to the people, ought to be an example to judges and magistrates, and 
induce them to discharge the duties of their office with the same ap¬ 
plication and the same integrity as Samuel performed his, all the 
days of his life. 

CHAP. LVI. 

The Israelites ask a king—Samuel anointeth Saul. 
From the eighth , ninth , tenth , and eleventh Chapters of 
the first Book of Samuel. B. C. 1112. 

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he 
made his sons judges over Israel. And his sons walked 
not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took 
n c mo* bribes, and perverted judgment. Then 
all the elders of Israel gathered them¬ 
selves together, and came to Samuel, and said unto him, 
Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy 
ways : now make us a king to judge us like all the 
nations. 

But the thing displeased Samuel, and Samuel prayed 
unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Heark¬ 
en unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


llfc 

thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have 
rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Now 
therefore hearken unto their voice : howbeit, yet protest 
solemnly unto them, and show them the manner ot the 
king that shall reign over them. 

And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the 
people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will 
be the manner of the king that shall reign over you : He 
will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for 
his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall 
run before his chariots. And he will appoint him cap¬ 
tains over thousands, and captains over fifties : and will 
set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and 
to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his 
chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confec¬ 
tionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. He will take 
your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, even 
the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he 
will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, 
and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will 
take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your 
goodiiestyoung men, and put them to his work. And ye 
shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day 
because of your king which ye shall have chosen you ; 
and the Lord will not hear you in that day. 

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of 
Samuel; and they said, Nay ; but we will have a king 
over us, that we also may be like all the nations ; and 
that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and 
fight our battles. 

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was 
Kish, and he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice 
young man, and a goodly 5 and there was not among the 
children of Israel a goodlier person than he ; from his 
shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the peo¬ 
ple. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto 
him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same 
shall reign over my people. Then Samuel took a vial 
ol oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and 
said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be 
captain over his inheritance ? And Samuel called the 
people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh ; and said unto 
the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 
I have brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you 
out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


119 


all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you : And ye 
have tliis day rejected your God, who himself saved you 
out of all your adversities, and your tribulations ; and ye 
have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now 
therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your 
tribes, and by your thousands. And Samuel caused all 
the tribes of Israel to come near, and said to all the peo¬ 
ple, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there 
is none like him among all the people ! And all the peo¬ 
ple shouted, and said, God save the king. Then Samuel 
told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it 
in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And all the 
people went to Gilgal ; and there they made Saul king 
before the Lord in Gilgal ; and there they sacrificed 
sacrifices of peace-offerings before the Lord •, and there 
Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is said of Samuel’s sons ?-What did the elders of Israel 

request of Samuel?-Was he pleased with their request?- 

Whose son was Saul ?-To what place did the people go when 

they made him king ? 


Practical Observations. 

God desires not the misery of his creatures, but would have them 
to be comfortable and happy. He was willing to let this people 
know the power of a king, before he would change their form of 
government. Thus he deals with sinners ; before he gives them up 
to their own hearts’ lusts, he gives them fair warning what will be the 
issue of their desires and pui suits; sets life and death before them; 
lets them know the worst; so that if sinners perish, they have none to 
blame but themselves. This deserves thankfully to be owned, as an 
instant of divine compassion and mercy ; and it should deter sinners 
from pursuing evil ways, and lead them to repentance. 

CHAP. LVII. 

David is anointed King, by Samuel. From the sixteenth 
Chapter of the first Book of Samuel. A.M. 2941.-— 
B. C. 11363. 

And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou 
mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning 
over Israel P fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send 
thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite : for I have provided me 
a king among his sons. 

And it came to pass when they were come, that he 
looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed 







120 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look 
not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature ; 
because I have refused him : for the Lord seeth not as 
man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance, 
but the Lord looketh on the heart. 

Again Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before 
Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath 
not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are 
here all thy children ? And he said, There remaineth 
yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. 
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him : for 
we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, 
and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of 
a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the 
Lord said, Arise, anoint him : for this is he. Then 
Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the 
midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came 
upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose 
rose up, and went to Ramah. 

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an 
evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul’s ser¬ 
vants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from 
God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy 
servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man who 
is a cunning player on an harp : and it shall come to pass, 
when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall 
play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. And Saul 
said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can 
play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of 
the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jes¬ 
se, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, 
and a man of war, anti prudent in matters, and a comely 
person, and the Lord is wi th him. 

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, 
Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And 
David came to Saul, and stood before him : and lie loved 
him greatly ; and he became his armour-bearer. And Saul 
sent to Jesse, saying. Let David I pray thee, stand before 
me ; for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came 
to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, 
that David took an harp, and played with his hand : So 
Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit 
departed from him. 

QUESTIONS. 

To whom did the Lord send Samuel ?-How many of his sons 

did Jesse make to pass before Samuel ?-What had been David’s 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


121 


employment ?-To what place did Samuel go after he had anoint* 

ed David ?-How came David to be introduced to Saul ? 


Practical Observations. 

We must reverence and fear that God who looketh into the heart, 
and discerns the temper and principle, the affections and thoughts. 
Samuel, though a wise and good man, was deceived in Jesse’s elder 
sons. Ifwe trust to outward appearances, we shall often be deceived. 
But let us always remember, that God searches the heart; he knows 
who will best till up particular stations, and often fixes on those per¬ 
sons who to us seem most unfit; and rejects others, who appear more 
likely. At length it will appear that we were mistaken. Let this 
be a caution to us to guard our hearts ; to see that we act upon right 
principles, and for good ends, for God cannot be deceived. We learn 
also, to judge of others by their tempers, and not by outward ap¬ 
pearances ; to value those most, whose minds are most holy, whose 
tempers are kind and obliging ; not those who are only eminent for a 
comely countenance or height of stature ; and who, like him whom 
Samuel thought the Lord would choose, are proud, surly, and pas¬ 
sionate. 

CHAP. LVIII. 

Goliath slain by David. From the seventeenth Chapter of 

the First BookoJ Samuel. A. M. 2941.—B.C. 1063. 

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to 
battle. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered 
together, and set the battle in array against the Philis¬ 
tines. 

And there went out a champion out of the camp of 
the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height 
was six cubits and a span. He had an helmet of 
brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of 
mail. The stall* of his spear was like a weaver’s 
beam ; and one bearing a shield went before him. 

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and 
said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle 
in array ? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to 
Saul ? choose you a man for you, and let him come down 
to me. If he be able to light with me, and to kill me, 
then will we be your servants : but if I prevail against 
him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and 
serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of 
Israel this day : give me a man, that we may fight togeth¬ 
er. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the 
Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 

L 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, 
and presented himself forty days. And Jesse said unto 
David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of 
this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the 
camp to thy brethren ; and carry these ten cheeses unto 
the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren 
fare, and take their pledge. 

And David rose up early in the morning, and left the 
sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had com¬ 
manded him ; and ran into the army, and came and saluted 
his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold there 
came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath 
by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake 
according to the same words : and David heard them. 
And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled 
from him, and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel 
said, Have ye seen this man that is come up ? surely to 
.defy Israel is he come up : and it shall be, that the man 
who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great 
riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his 
father’s house free in Israel. 

And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, 
What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, 
and taketh away the reproach from Israel ? for who is this 
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies 
of the living God P And the people answered him after 
this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that 
killeth him. And he turned from him towards another, 
and spake after the same manner : and the people an¬ 
swered him again after the former manner. And when 
the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed 
them before Saul : and he sent for him. 

And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail 
because of him ; thy servant will go and fight with this 
Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able 
to go against this Philistine to fight with him : for thou 
art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s 
sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a 
lamb out of the flock : And 1 went out after him, and smote 
him, and delivered it out of his mouth : and when he 
arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote 
him, and slew him. 

David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out 
of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, 









THE BIBLICAL READER. 123 

will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And 
Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. 
And he took his statf in his hand* and chose him five 
smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shep¬ 
herd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip ; and his sling 
was in his hand : and he drew near to the Philistine. 

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, 
he disdained him : for he was but a youth, and ruddy, 
and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto 
David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves ? 
and the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the 
Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give 
thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of 
the field. 

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me 
with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield : but 
I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God 
of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This 
day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand $ and I 
will smite thee, and take thine head from thee ; that all 
the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And 
all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not 
with sword and spear : for the battle is the Lord^s, and 
he will give you into our hands. 

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a 
stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his fore¬ 
head, that the stone sunk into his forehead ; and he fell 
upon his face to the earth. Therefore David ran and stood 
upon the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out 
of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut of his 
head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their 
champion was dead, they fled. And the men of 
Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued 
the Philistines. And David took the head of the Philis¬ 
tine, and brought it to Jerusalem $ but he put his armour 
in his tent. 

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Phil¬ 
istine, he said unto Abner the captain of the host, 
Abner, whose son is this youth ? And Abner said, As 
thy soul liveth, 0 king, 1 cannot tell. And the king 
said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. And as 
David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, 
Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the 
head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, 
Whose son art thou, thou young man ? And David 


124 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth- 
iehemite. 

QUESTIONS. 

How was Goliath armed ?-For how long time did he present 

himself before the men of Israel ?——-With what was David armed ? 

-Which prevailed?-What became of the Philistines when 

Goliath was slain ? 


Practical Observations. 

David excelled not only king Saul, but perhaps all other kings that 
ever reigned, in this : that, as he rejoiced to do the will of God, and 
to fight his battles, so he went about his work with a singular alacrity, 
a marvellous affiance in God and dependence on his arm for succour 
and assistance. When he heard the proud boastings of this Philistine, 
his zeal was fired for God and his country. He considered his gi¬ 
gantic enemy no otherwise than the lion or bear who came to devour 
his flock. He knew, that by the general law and sentence of God, 
the Philistines were doomed to destruction, and that Goliath had more 
particularly deserved it, by the reproaches and revilings which he had 
cast on God and his people. He therefore entered the lists, as one 
who fought under the banners of the God of Israel, and appeared in 
vindication of his honour and glory. 

While we cannot fail to admire the resolution and courage of Da¬ 
vid, in offering to encounter Goliath, and above all his religious 
trust in Almighty God, we must be particularly struck with his won¬ 
derful success, in slaying the giant with such a weapon as a sling. 
In all this it visibly appears, that God assisted David in an extraor¬ 
dinary manner ; and also that he was pleased to vindicate his own 
honour, which Goliath had attacked, and made those idolaters sensi¬ 
ble that he was the Almighty God. Thus we likewise see how God 
helps those that trust in him, and makes use of means, in 
appearance very weak, to bring down the pride of the wicked, and 
to destroy those powers which seem to be most formidable. 




CHAP. LIX. 

David greatly beloved by Jonathan , and hated by Saul. 

From the eighteenth and nineteenth Chapters of the First 

Book of Samuel. A. M. 2941.—B. C. 1063. 

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of 
speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit 
with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own 
soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him 
go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan 
and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his 
own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe 
that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his gar¬ 
ments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his 
girdle. 








THE EIBLICAL READER. 


125 


And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and 
behaved himself wisely : and it came to pass that the 
women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and 
dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy^ and 
with instruments ot musick. And the women answered 
one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his 
thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul eyed 
David from that day and forward. 

And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was 
with him, and was departed from Saul. But all Israel 
and Judah loved David, because he went out and came 
in before them. 

And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune 
with David secretly, and say, Behold,*' the king hath 
delight in thee, and all his servants love thee : now there- 
lore be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul’s servants spake 
those words in the ears of David. And David said, 
Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, 
seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed ? 
and the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner 
spake David. 

And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, the king 
desireth not any dowry, but an hundred of the Philistines, 
to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought 
to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And 
when his servants told David these words, it pleased 
David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Wherefore 
David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the 
Philistines two hundred men ; and Saul gave him 
Michal his daughter to wife. And Saul saw and knew 
that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s 
daughter, loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid 
of David ; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. 

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his sei- 
vants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, SauPs 
son, delighted much in David : and Jonathan told David, 
saying, Saul, my father, seeketh to kill thee : now, there¬ 
fore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, 
and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself : And I will 
go out and stand beside my father in the field where 
thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee 5 
and what I see, that I will tell thee. 

And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his 
father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against 

L 2 


126 


THE BIBLICAL REAdEIL 




his servant, against David ; because he hath not sinned 
against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward 
very good : For he did put his life in his hand, and slew 
the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation 
for all Israel : thou sawest it and didst rejoice : where¬ 
fore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay 
David without a cause ? and Saul hearkened unto the 
voice of Jonathan : and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, 
he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and 
Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan 
brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in 
times past. 

And there was war again : and David went out, and 
fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great 
slaughter; and they fled from him. And the evil spirit 
from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with 
ills javelin in his hand : and David played with his hand. 
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with 
the javelin ; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, 
and he smote the javelin into the wall : and David fled, 
and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto 
David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morn¬ 
ing : and Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, If 
thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be 
slain. So Michal let David down through a window : 
and he went, and fled, and escaped. 

QUESTIONS. 

What took place between David and Jonathan ?-What did the 

women say who went out to meet Saul ?-Whom did David marry ? 

-What did Saul direct Jonathan and all his serv ants to do to Da¬ 
vid ?-How did David escape from the messengers sent by Saul to 

take him ? 


Practical Observations. 

Jonathan’s love to David sprang from a nobler principle than that 
which binds one brave soldier to another. David's combat with Go¬ 
liath had showed him in a more exalted character than that of a sol¬ 
dier : the pretensions he set forth before he engaged, and the success 
he met with, showed him to be a favourite servant of the Lord’s : and 
there was a principle of religion, as well as a military sympathy, 
which knit the soul of Jonathan to the soul of David. 

In God’s designation of David to fill the throne of Israel, he saw 
what was contrary to his own natural expectation: for his birth and 
character might naturally point him out as his father’s successor. 
But when he was led to conclude, by David’s conduct and success 
that God had designed it otherwise, he had prudence and religion 
enough to submit to the appointment; and, instead of hating a man 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


127 

who was to set him aside from his father’s throne, he loved the man 
who was qualified to fill it, and fixed his esteem where God had fixed 
his choice. 

Jonathan gave noble proofs, indeed, of his friendship for David, 
and of his virtue, when he used his utmost endeavours to pacify his 
father, and spake with so much respect and resolution in behalf of 
his friend, to reconcile his father to him. By this means he dis¬ 
charged his duty to his friend, and, at the same time, to his father, 
by inspiring him with more just sentiments. Thus ought we ever to 
take part with the innocent, when persecuted unjustly, never to be 
backward in our good offices toward others, and to use all means of 
appeasing those that are enraged. 

***►#©••<*• 

CHAP. LX. 

David consults with Jonathan for his Safety , and fleeth 
from Saul. From the twentieth - Chapter of the First 

Book of Samuel. A. M. 2942.—13. C. 10G2. 

And David came and said before Jonathan, What have 
I done r what is mine iniquity ? and what is my sin 
before thy father, that he seeketh my life ? And David 
moreover said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, 
there is but a step between me and death. Therefore 
thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast 
brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with 
thee : notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me 
thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father ? 

And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee ; for if I knew 
certainly that evil were determined by my father to 
come upon thee, then would not 1 tell it thee ? And Jon¬ 
athan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I 
have sounded my father about to-morrow any time or the 
third day, and behold, if there be good towards David, 
and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee, the 
Lord do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please 
my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and 
send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace : and the 
Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 

So David hid himself in the field : and when the new 
moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 
And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even up¬ 
on a seat by the wall : and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat 
by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. Neverthe¬ 
less Saul spake not any thing that day : for he thought, 
something hath befallen him. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


128 

And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the 
second day of the month, that David’s place was empty : 
and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore coineth 
not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to¬ 
day ? And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly 
asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem : and he said, 
Let me go, l pray thee ; for our family hath a sacrifice 
in the city ; and my brother he hath commanded me to 
be there : Therefore he coineth not unto the king’s table. 
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he 
said unto him, Do not I know that thou hast chosen the 
son of Jesse to thine own confusion? For as long as the 
son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be 
established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send 
and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 

And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto 
him, Wherefore shall he be slain ? what hath he done ? 
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him : whereby 
Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to 
slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table, and did 
eat no meat the second day of the month : for he was 
grieved for David, because his father had done him 
shame. And it came to pass in the morning, that 
Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed 
with David. And David arose out of a place towards 
the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed 
himself three times: and they kissed one another, 
and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And 
Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we 
have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying. 
The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed 
and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed : and 
Jonathan went into the city. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Jonathan promise David ?-What did Jonathan tell 

Saul, when he inquired where David was ?-What did Saul then 

direct Jonathan to do ?-What took place when Jonathan went 

into the field to David ? 


Practical Observations. 

We may readily pronounce, that it was the sense, not of his own 
distress, but of Jonathan’s generosity, which now overwhelmed Da¬ 
vid. He was leaving, perhaps taking his last leave, of that man, 
who, though he knew David stood between him and the throne, yet 
had often saved his life, and was now just come from saving it again, 
at the imminent hazard of his own. And how was he leaving this 
invaluable friend ? lie was leaving him to the rage of a furious, 











David cuts Saul’s mantle.... Page 129. 



Nathan reproving David ....Page 137, 









































































THE BIBLICAL READER. 


129 


incensed father, who would not fail to destroy him for the very 
kindness lie was then showing David, if it ever came to his knowl¬ 
edge. Jonathan was too delicate and too generous not to see all the 
movements of David s heart on tins distressful occasion \ and seeing 
them, he repressed his own grief, for fear of sinking his friend too 
much by excess of tenderness. This made him conclude the confer¬ 
ence in that religious and calm manner recorded in the next verse, 
ho in peace, for as much as we have sworn both of us in the name 
of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between 
my seed and thy seed for ever. 



CIIAP. LXI. 


David in a Cave at En'gedi spareth Saul’s life. From 

the twenty-four th Chapter of the First Book of Samuel. 

A. M. 2943.—15. C. 1061. 

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from 
following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, 
Behold, David is in the wilderness of En'gedi. Then 
Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, 
and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of 
the wild goats. And he came by the way, where was a 
cave ; and Saul went in to cover his feet : and David 
and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the 
men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which 
the Lord said unto thee, Behold, 1 will deliver thine 
enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as 
it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut 
off* the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. 

And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart 
smote him, because he had cut off* Saul’s skirt. And he 
said unto his men, The Lord forbid that 1 should do this 
thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch 
forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed 
of the Lord. So David stayed his servants with these 
words, and suff’ered them not to rise against Saul. But 
Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 
David also rose afterward, and went out of the cave, 
and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And 
when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his 
face to the earth, and bowed himself. 

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou 
men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt ? 
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how tiiat the Lord 
hath delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave : 
and some bade me kill thee : but mine eye spared thee ; 


130 


THE BIBLICAL READER.. 


and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my 
lord •, for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my 
father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand : 
for in that 1 cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee 
not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor 
transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against 
thee ; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The Lord 
judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of 
thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After 
whom is the king of Israel come out P after whom dost 
thou pursue? The Lord therefore be judge, and judge 
between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and 
deliver me out of thine hand. 

And it came to pass when David had made an end of 
speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this 
thy voice, my son David ? And Saul lifted up his voice, 
and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righte¬ 
ous than I ; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I 
have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast shewed this 
day how that thou hast dealt well with me ; forasmuch 
as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou 
killedst me not. For if a ; ppm find his enemy, will he 
let him go well away ; wherefore the Lord reward thee 
good, for that thou hast done unto me this day. And 
now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, 
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in 
thine hand. 

QUESTIONS. 

With how many men did Saul go in pursuit of David ?-What 

took place at a cave of En'gedi ? -What did David say to Saul 

afterwards ?-How was Saul affected by this treatment from David ? 


Practical Observations. 

The history related in this chapter sets before us a surprising in¬ 
stance of mildness and moderation. David had it in his power to kill 
Saul, his cruel and unjust persecutor, and did not do it: he would 
not even suffer his people to do him any harm, and spake to him with 
ah the humility and respect imaginable. A good man never delivers 
himself by unlawful means; but uses even those who do him the 
greatest mischief with meekness and gentleness, and instead of re¬ 
venging himself, returns all the good he can for evil. It is remark- 
able, that Saul, notwithstanding the hatred he bore to David, was so 
affected with this treatment, that he wept, and was even forced to 
bless him, and to own that David was more righteous than he, and to 
declare openly, that God would reward his virtue, and make him 
king. A mild, prudent, and gentle behaviour, is of great efficacy in 
pacifying those who are the most prejudiced against us ; and by 
humbling ourselves, we soften the hardest hearts. This ought to in- 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


131 


duce us the more to the practice of those virtues, which besides arc 
so conformable to our calling and duty as Christians, and which our 
blessed Redeemer has so expressly recommended to us, both by his 
precepts and example. 

CHAP. LXII. 

David persuaded Abish'ai from killing Said. From 

the twenty-sixth Chapter of the First Book of Samuel. 
A. M. 2944.—B. C. 1060. 

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul 
had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul 
lay. And Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched 
round about him. Then answered David and said, Who 
will go down with me to Saul to the camp ? and Abish'ai 
said, I will go down with thee. So David and Abish'ai 
came to the people by night: and behold, Saul lay sleeping 
within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground 
at his bolster : but Abner and the people lay round about 
him. 

Then said Abish'ai to David, God hath delivered thine 
enemy into thine hand this day : now therefore let me 
smite him, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the earth 
at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And 
David said to Abish'ai, Destrov him not: for who can 
stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and 
be guiltless ? David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, 
the Lord shall smite him ; or his day shall come to die ; 
or he shall xlescend into battle, and perish. The Lord 
forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the 
Lord’s anointed : but, I pray thee, take thou now the 
spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and 
let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of 
water from Saul’s bolster ; and they gat them away, and 
no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked. 

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on 
the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between 
them : and David cried to the people, and to Abner the 
son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then 
Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the 
king ? And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant 
man ? and who is like to thee in Israel ? wherefore then 
hast thou not kept thy lord the king ? for there came one 
of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This 
tiling is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord lir- 


132 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


eth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your 
master the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the 
king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his 
bolster. 

And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy 
voice, my son David P and David said, It is my voice, 
my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord 
thus pursue after his servant ? for what have I done ? 
or what evil is in mine hand ? 

Then said Saul, I have sinned : return, my son David : 
for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was 
precious in thine eyes this day : behold, I have played 
the fool, and have erred exceedingly. And David an¬ 
swered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of 
the young men come over and fetch it. The Lord render 
to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness : for 
the Lord delivered thee into my hand to-day, but I would 
not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed. 
And behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine 
eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the 
Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son 
David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt 
still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul 
returned to his place. 


QUESTIONS. 

Where did David find Saul ?-Who. accompanied David P- 

What did Abish'ai propose to do ?-What prevented him from 

killing Saul ?-How did David give Saul new proof of his friend¬ 

ship ? 


Practical Observations. 

We have here a fresh instance of the piety and moderation of Da¬ 
vid, who, when he had the second opportunity of killing Saul, would 
not do it. This proceeding was yet the more commendable in Da¬ 
vid, because he had spared Saul once before ; and this prince, though 
moved with his generosity, ceased not still to persecute him. Let us 
learn from hence, to avoid revenge; never to return evil for evil ; 
and never to be weary of behaving ourselves with gentleness towards 
those persons that treat us with the greatest injustice, though they 
continue their evil machinations against us. Lastly, the effect that 
David’s moderation had upon Saul, shows us, how powerfully inno¬ 
cence, meekness, and humility work upon those who would do us 
harm ; and that the worst of men are forced at last to declare in fa¬ 
vour of the righteous'. But supposing by this means we should not 
be able to pacify those that hate us, we shall secure to ourselves the 
divine favour ; for, as David says, the Lord will reward every one 
according to his righteousness. 






THE JHBLICAL READER. 


133 


CHAP. LXI1I. 

Death of Saul and his Sons , and David’s Lamentation. 
From the thirty-first Chapter of the first Book of Sam- 
ueU and the first Chapter of the second Book of Sam¬ 
uel. A. M. 2943.—13. C. 1056. 

Now the Philistines fought against Israel : and the 
men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell 
down slain in mount Gil'boa. And the Philistines fol¬ 
lowed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philis¬ 
tines slew Jonathan, and Abin'adab, and Melchishu'a, 
SauPs sons. Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer, 
Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest 
these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and 
abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not ; for he was 
sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon 
it. And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, 
he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So 
Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and 
all his men, that same day together. And when the men 
of Israel saw that Saul and his sons were dead, they for¬ 
sook the cities, and fled $ and the Philistines came and 
dwelt in them. 

It came even to pass that, behold, a man came out of the 
camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his 
head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell 
to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto 
him, From whence comest thou ? And he said unto him, 
Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said 
unto him, Ho# went the matter P I pray thee, tell me. 
And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, 
and many of the people also are fallen and dead ; and 
Saul, and Jonathan his son, are dead also. 

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, 
and over Jonathan his son : The beauty of Israel is slain 
upon thy high places : how are the mighty fallen ! tell it 
not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of As'kelon ; lest 
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters 
of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gil'boa, 
let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, 
nor fields of offerings : for there the shield of the mighty 
is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had 
not been anointed v ith oil. From the blood of the slam, 
from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not 

M 





134 


the biblical reader. 


back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul 
and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and 
in their death they were not divided : they were swifter 
than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daugh¬ 
ters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, 
with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon 
your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of 
the battle ! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high 
places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : 
very pleasant hast thou been unto me : thy love to me was 
wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the 
mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished ! 

QUESTIONS. 

What was the end of Saul and of his sons ?-What became of 

the children of Israel on the death of Saul and his sons ?-Who in¬ 
formed David of the event ?-How was David affected with it ? 


Practical Observations. 

The death of Saul is well deserving of our serious attention. This 

{ nrince, who had been chosen by God to the throne, and who began 
lis reign so well, made a miserable end; and the threatenings de¬ 
nounced against him by God on several occasions were fully put in 
execution. Thus it always has been, and always will be, with the 
divine denunciations, whether against particular persons or against 
sinners in general. This event ought to inspire us with a wholesome 
fear, and to impress us with the conviction, that those who are en¬ 
riched by God with blessings, and who abuse those blessings, are at 
last abandoned by him, and made examples of his indignation. 

Death knows no partial distinctions; even Jonathan himself is in¬ 
volved in the common destruction. If valour, if holiness, if sincerity 
of heart, could have averted the fatal blow, Jonathan would have sur¬ 
vived ; the son of Saul would have lived, to share in the prosperity 
of the son of Jesse ; to rejoice in his possession of a throne, to which 
himself made no pretensions, the rival of David only in friendship 
and in virtue. God willed it otherwise ; he had brighter rewards in 
store for that illustrious youth than an earthly diadem. The arrows of 
the Philistines dismiss the royal Jonathan to a more exceeding weight 
of glory than that which he relinquished to the brother of his love. 

-*►*©©#-♦<— 

CHAP. LXIY. 

David forbidden to build a House to God , and his Prayer 
on the Occasion. From the seventh Chapter of the sec¬ 
ond Book of Samuel , which is essentially the same as 
the seventeenth Chapter of the first Book of Chronicles . 
A. M. 2962.—B. C. 1042. 

And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, 
and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his 
enemies, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


13$ 

See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of 
God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the 
king, Go, do all that is in thine heart: for the Lord is 
with thee. 

And it came to pass that night, that the word of the 
Lord came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant 
David, thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house 
tor me to dwell in ? Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took 
thee from the sheep-cote, from following the sheep, to be 
ruler over my people, over Israel : And I was with thee 
whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine 
enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great 
name, like unto the name of the great men that are in 
the earth. Moreover, I will appoint a place for my peo¬ 
ple Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a 
place of their own, and move no more : neither shall the 
children of wickedness afflict them any more as beforetime: 
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be 
over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from 
all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he 
will make thee an house. 

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep 
with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, and I 
will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for 
my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom 
for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. 
If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of 
men, and with the stripes of the children of men : But 
my mercy shall not.depart away from him, as I took 
it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine 
house and thy kingdom shall be establised for ever before 
thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 

Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, 
and he said, Who am I, O Lord God ? and what is my 
house, that thou hast brought me hitherto : And this was 
yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God ; but thou 
hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while 
to come. And is this the manner of man, 0 Lord God P 
And what can David say more unto thee ? for thou, Lord 
God, knowest thy servant. For thy word’s sake, and 
according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these 
great things, to make thy servant know them. Where¬ 
fore thou art great, O Lord God : for there is none like 
thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to 
all that we have heard with our ears. And what one 





136 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, 
whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and 
to make him a name, and to do for you great things and 
terrible, for thy land, before thy people which thou 
redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and 
their gods P For thou hast confirmed to thy-self thy people 
Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, 
art become their God. And now, O Lord God, the word 
that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and con¬ 
cerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast 
said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, 
The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel : and let the 
house of thy servant David be established before thee. 
For thou, 0 Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed 
to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house : there¬ 
fore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this pray¬ 
er unto thee. And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, 
and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this good¬ 
ness unto thy servant: Therefore now let it please thee 
to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for 
ever before thee : for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: 
and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be 
blessed for ever. 

QUESTIONS. 

How did God make known to David that he was not to build the 

temple ?-What important promise was made to David at the same 

time ?-What promise was made concerning the perpetuity of the 

kingdom in the house of David ? 

Practical Observations. 

David, after he had received the foregoing gracious promise 
from the prophet, offered up this excellent prayer to God, and return¬ 
ed most hearty thanks; expressing his faith and firm dependence on 
the promises of God, his great zeal for his glory, his joy and gratitude, 
and, above all, his profound humility. In this prayer he likewise 
implores, with great fervency of devotion, the Divine blessing on 
himself and on his family. This example should incite us to celebrate 
the goodness of the Lord towards us, with hearts sincerely sensible 
of his mercies, and of our own unworthiness; and continually to 
implore the Divine favor and benediction, with all the ferv ency of true 
devotion. 

CHAP. LXV. 

Natharis Parable. From the twelfth Chapter of the sec¬ 
ond Book of Samuel. A. M. 2970.—B. C. 1034. 

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came 
unto him, and said unto him. There were two men in one 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


isr 


city : the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man 
had exceeding many flocks and herds : but the poor man 
had nothing save one little ewe-lamb, which he had bought 
and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and 
with his children ; it did eat of his own meat, and drank 
of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him 
as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich 
man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own 
herd, to dress for the way-faring man that was come unto 
him ; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the 
man that was come to him. 

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the 
man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the 
man that hath done this thing shall surely die. And he 
shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, 
and because he had no pity. 

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus 
saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over 
Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and 
I gave thee thy master’s house, and gave thee the house 
of Israel and of Judah ; and if that had been too little, I 
would moreover have given unto thee such and such 
things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment 
of the Lord, to do evil in his sight ? thou hast killed Uri¬ 
ah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to 
be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the chil¬ 
dren of Ammon. 

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against 
the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord al¬ 
so hath put away thy sin ; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, 
because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to 
the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that 
is born unto thee shall surely die. 

And Nathan departed unto his house. And the 
Lord struck the child, and it was very sick. David there¬ 
fore besought God for the child ; and David fasted, and 
went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the 
elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him 
up from the earth : but he would not, neither did he eat 
bread with them. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child 
died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that 
the child was dead : for they said, Behold while the child 
was yet alive, we spake unto him and he would not heark" 

M 2 


138 


THE BIBLICAL READER- 


en unto our voice : how will he then vex himself, if We 
tell him that the child is dead ? But when David saw that 
his servants whispered, David perceived that the child 
was dead : therefore David said unto his servants, Is the 
child dead ? And they said, He is dead. 

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and 
anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into 
the house of the Lord, and worshipped : then he came 
to his own house ; and when he required, they set bread 
before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto 
him, What thing is this that thou hast done ? thou didst 
fast and weep for the child, while it was alive ; but when 
the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And 
he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted, and 
wept : for I said, Who can tell whether God will be 
gracious to me, that the child may live ? but now he is 
dead, wherefore should I fast ? can I bring him back 
again ? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 

QUESTIONS. 

What was the substance of Nathan’s parable ?-What reply did 

David make to it ?-What did David say when the prophet applied 

it to him ?.-When did the child of David die ?——How did 

David learn that the child was dead ?-What did he say, when 

asked why he ceased to weep, after the child was dead ? 

Practical Observations. 

The arguments by which David composed his own mind after the 
death of his child, are very proper for us, when mourning the death 
of desirable children. It was a very solid consideration that all his 
grief could not recover his child. This shows the necessity of en¬ 
deavouring to compose our minds, and not to give a loose to our pas¬ 
sions. He further reflected, that he should quickly go after it. Con¬ 
sidering himself as a mortal creature, he saw the folly of excessive 
grief. When friends die, we should think of our own death ; how 
quickly we shall go after them : therefore we have something else to 
do than to waste our time in fruitless sorrow. The words intimate 
further, that looking beyond the grave, he saw something to assuage 
his grief, some views of future happiness. The prospect of meeting 
«?ur fellow creatuies again, and being forever with them, is a source 
of comfort and joy when they are taken away. 


CHAP. LXVI. 

Conspiracy and Death of Absalom . From the fourteenth , 
fifteenth , eighteenth , and nineteenth Chapters of the 
second Book of Samuel . A. M. 2977 .—B. C. 1037 . 

In all Israel there was none to be so much praised as 
Absalom for his beauty : from the sole of his foot even to 





THE BIBLICAL READER.. 


ISO 


the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And 

4 M 2979 lt . Came t0 P ass t,iat Absalom prepared 

V C chariots and horses, and fifty men 

to run before him. And Absalom rose 
up early, and stood beside the way of the gate : and it 
was so, that when any man that had a controversy came 
to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him y 
and said, Of what city art thou ? And he said, Thy ser¬ 
vant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said 
unto him, See, thy matters are good and right •, but there 
is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in 
the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause 
might come unto me, and 1 would do him justice ! And 
it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him 
obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and 
kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all 
Israel that came to the king for judgment : so Absalom, 
stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 

A M oqq^ And it came to pass after forty years, 
that Absalom said unto the king, I pray 
thee, let me go and pay my vow, which 
I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. For thy servant 
vowed a vow while I abode in Syria, saying, If the Lord 
shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will 
serve the Lord. And the king said unto him, Go in 
peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Is¬ 
rael, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, 
then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And 
with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, 
that were called $ and they went in their simplicity, and 
they knew not any thing. 

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The 
hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. And Da¬ 
vid said unto all his servants that were with him at Jeru¬ 
salem, Arise, and let us flee ; for we shall not else 
escape from Absalom : make speed to depart, lest he 
overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite 
the city with the edge of the sword. And the king’s ser¬ 
vants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready 
to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 

And the king went forth, and all his household, and all 
the people after him. 


140 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and 
wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he 
went bare-foot: and all the people that was with him 
covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping 
as they went up. 

, And one told David, saying, Ahith'ophel is among the 
conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I 
pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahith'ophel into foolishness. 

And David numbered the people that were with him, 
and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds 
over them. And David sent forth a third part of the 
people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the 
hand of Abish'ai, Joab’s brother, and a third part under 
the hand of Ittai. And the king said unto the people, I 
will surely go forth with you myself also. But the peo¬ 
ple answered, Thou shalt not go forth : for if we flee 
away, they will not care for us ; neither if half of us die, 
will they care for us : but now thou art worth ten thou¬ 
sand of us : therefore now it is better that thou succour 
\is out of the city. 

And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best 
I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all 
the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. And 
the king commanded Joab and Abish'ai and Ittai, saying, 
Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with 
Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave 
all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and 
the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ; where the people 
of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there 
was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand 
men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of 
all the country : and the wood devoured more people that 
day than the sword devoured. 

And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absa¬ 
lom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick 
boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the 
oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the 
earth; and the mule that was under him went away. 
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said. Be¬ 
hold, I saw Absalom hanged in oak. And Joab said unto 
the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest him, 
and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground ? 
and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver* and a 
girdle. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


141 


And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive 
a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I 
not put forth mine hand against the king’s son : for in our 
hearing the king charged thee and Abish'ai and Ittai, say¬ 
ing, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine 
own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and 
thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. Then 
said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took 
three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart 
ol Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the 
oak. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great 
pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon 
him : and all Israel fled every one to his tent. 

Then said Joab to Cu'shi, Go, tell the king what thou 
hast seen. And Cu'shi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 
Then said Ahim'aaz the son of Zadok, Let me, I pray 
thee, also run after Cu'shi. And he said unto him, Run. 
Then Ahim'aaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran 
Cu'shi. And David sat between the two gates : and the 
watchman went up to the roof and looked, and behold a 
man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told 
the king. And the king said, If he be alone there is tid¬ 
ings in his mouth. And the watchman saw another man 
running : and the watchman called unto the porter, and 
said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king 
said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, 
Me-thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running 
of Ahim'aaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a 
good man, and cometh with good tidings. 

And Ahim'aaz called, and said unto the king, All is 
well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before 
the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which 
hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against 
my Lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man 
Absalom safe ? And Ahim'aaz answered, When Joab 
sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a 
great tumult, but I knew not what it was. 

And the king said unto him, Turn aside and stand 
here. And he turned aside, and stood still. And behold, 
Cu'shi came ; and Cu'shi said, Tidings, my lord the king : 
for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that 
rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cu'shi, Is 
the young man Absalom safe P And Cu'shi answered, 


142 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


The enemies of my Lord the king, and all that rise 
against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 

And the king was much moved, and went up to the 
chamber over the gale, and wept: and as he went, thus 
he said, O my son Absalom, my son, iny son Absalom ! 
would God I had died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son, 
my son ! And the victory that day was turned into 
mourning unto all the people : for the people heard say 
that day how the king was grieved for his son. 

QUESTIONS. 

In vvhut manner did Absalom win the hearts of the people ?-- 

What signal did he propose to give, that the people might know 

when a revolt should take place ?-To what place did David go 

on hearing of the revolt ?-Under whom did he send the people 

against Absalom ?-What charge did he give Joab, Abish'ai, and 

fttai ?-What was the end of Absalom ? 


Practical Observations. 

Here we see the event and end of Absalom’s rebellion, and the 
punishment that God inflicted upon that unnatural and impious son, 
who intended to have deprived his father both of his life and king¬ 
dom In this history we see evident marks of the curse of God upon 
Absalom, since he perished in a very tragical manner. This is a 
great example of the divine vengeance which overtakes the wicked, 
and especially ambitious men, disobedient children, and such as 
rebel against their lawful sovereigns. It must be considered further, 
that the divine vengeance overtook, not only Absalom, but the Isra¬ 
elites also : for there fell of them twenty thousand. Lastly, David’s 
excessive grief, when he heard of the death of Absalom, must be 
ascribed, not only to his tender affection for his unnatural and rebel¬ 
lious son, but also to his piety. He was more concerned for his sin, 
and the state in which he died, than for his death. The affection of 
a parent is very strong; the sins, the ingratitude of children, cannot 
root it from their heart; and they who fear God are then most incon¬ 
solable, when their children are engaged in a course of sin, and they 
see them die in a state of condemnation. 




CHAP. LXVII. 


The Death of David. From the second Chapter of the 
first Book of Kings. A. M. 2990.—B. C. 1014. 

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; 
and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of 
all the earth : be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself 
a man : And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to 
walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his command¬ 
ments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is 
written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all 
that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself; 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


143 


That the Lord may continue his word which he spake con¬ 
cerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, 
to walk before me in truth with all their heart, and with all 
their soul, there shall not fail thee, said he, a man on the 
throne of Israel. So David slept with his fathers, and was 
buried in the city ot David. And the days that David reign¬ 
ed over Israel were forty years : seven years reigned he in 
Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jeru¬ 
salem. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his 
lather ; and his kingdom was established greatly. 


Practical Observations. 

It is desirable to be habitually and calmly expecting the approach 
of death: for that is the way appointed for all men to pass from this 
world to another : a dark and gloomy road indeed it is for the workers 
of iniquity, to a still more dark and dreadful place : but rendered 
cheerful to the righteous, by the presence of the Lord, and by the 
hopes of complete felicity. 

We cannot too closely imitate the example of this most eminent 
saint; but let us watch and pray, lest we be overcome by temptation and 
overtaken with sin, to the dishonour of God, and the wounding of our 
own consciences ; and if we have offended, let us copy his example of 
repentance and patience, still hoping to close our days like him ; and 
having served our generation after the will of God, to fall asleep, with 
the sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection through our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 


CHAP. LXVIII. 

Solomon’s wise Choice. From the third Chapter of the 
first Book of Kings. A. M. 2990.—B. C. 1014. 

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream 
by night : and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant 
David my father great mercy, according as he walked be¬ 
fore thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in upright¬ 
ness of heart with thee ; and thou hast kept for him this 
great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit 
on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord 
my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of Da¬ 
vid my father : and I am but a little child : I know not 
how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the 
midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great peo¬ 
ple, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to 
judge thy people, that I may discern between good and 
bad : for who is able to judge this thy so great a people ? 



144 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had 
asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou 
hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long 
life ; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked 
the life of thine enemies : but hast asked for thyself 
understanding to discern judgment ; behold, 1 have done 
according to thy words : lo, I have given thee a wise and 
an understanding heart ; so that there was none like thee 
before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto 
thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast 
not asked, both riches and honour: so that there shall 
not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes 
and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, 
then I will lengthen thy days. 

And Solomon awoke ; and behold, it was a dream. 
And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of 
the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt-offerings, 
and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his 
servants. 

Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto 
the king, and stood before him. And the one woman 
said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house ; 
and it came to pass that this woman’s child died in the 
night 5 and she arose at midnight, and took my son from 
beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her 
bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when 
I rose in the morning, behold, it was dead : but when I 
had considered it in the morning, behold it was not my 
son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; 
but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And 
this said, No ; but the dead is thy son, and the living is 
my son. Thus they spake before the king. 

Then said the king, The one saith. This is my son that 
liveth, and thy son is the dead ; and the other saith, Nay ; 
but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And 
the king said. Bring me a sword. And they brought a 
sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the 
living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to 
the other. 

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto 
the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she 
said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise 
slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor 
thine, but divide it. Then the king answ ered and said. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


145 


Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is 
the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judg¬ 
ment which the king had judged ; and they feared the 
king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, 
to do judgment. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where and how did God appear to Solomon ?-What did he ask 

of God P-Where did he go after awaking from his dream?- 

What did he do at Jerusalem ?-What instance of his wisdom is 

recorded in the latter part of the Chapter ? 


Practical Observations. 

God granted Solomon a peculiar favour, when he gave him the lib¬ 
erty to ask what he pleased ; and Solomon gave an instance of his 
wisdom and piety, when he asked of God skill and understanding to 
enable him to govern the people, rather than glory and riches. This 
request was so agreeable to God, that he granted him an extraordina¬ 
ry degree of wisdom, and at the same time gave him riches and glory 
surpassing the greatest kings.—We ought all of us to learn from 
hence, to labour after, and beg of God in the first place, true wisdom, 
which consists in fearing him; and the gifts and graces of the spirit 
necessary to that end. The manner in which God received Solo¬ 
mon’s prayer proves, that he is always ready to grant these gifts to 
those that ask them ; besides which, he often grants them temporal 
blessings, although they do not ask them. This our Lord teaches us 
in these words : “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righte¬ 
ousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.”—Lastly, it was 
soon discovered that Solomon was endued with an extraordinary de¬ 
gree of wisdom, by the judgment that he passed between the two 
women that came before him ; and these beginnings of his reign show 
how completely happy that prince would have been, if he had per¬ 
severed in holiness, and in the fear of the Lord. 




CHAP. LXIX. 


Solomon’s Agreement with Hiram , and Building of the 
Temple. From the fifth and sixth Chapters of the first 
Book of Kings. A. M. 2977.—B. C. 1014. 

And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solo¬ 
mon ; for he had heard that they had anointed him king 
in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of 
David. 

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest 
how that David my father could not build an house unto 
the name of the Lord his God, for the wars which were 
about him on every side, until the Lord put them under 
the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God hath 
given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adver¬ 
sary nor evil occurrent. And behold, I purpose to build 

N 







146 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord 
spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I 
will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an 
house unto my name. Now therefore command thou, 
that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon ; and my 
servants shall be with thy servants : and unto thee will 
I give hire tor thy servants according to all that thou 
shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there js not among 
us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians. 

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of 
Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Bles^d be 
the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise 
son over this great people. And Hiram sent to Solomon, 
saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest 
to me for : and I will do all thy desire concerning timber 
of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall 
bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea : and I will 
convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt 
appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, 
and thou shalt receive them : and thou shalt accomplish 
my desire, in giving food, for my household. So Hiram 
gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all 
his desire. 

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures 
of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures 
of pure oil : thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. 
And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised 
him : and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon ; 
and they two made a league together. 

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth 
year after the children of Israel were come out of the land 
of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over 
Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that 
he began to build the house of the Lord. 

And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, 
Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou 
wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and 
keep all my commandments, to walk in them ; then will 
I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David 
thy father : And I will dwell among the children of 
Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. So Solo- 
mon built the house, and finished it. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who sent messengers to Solomon on his being anojnted ?- 

What word did Solomon send Hiram ?-What did Hiram promise 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


147 


5n building the temple ?-What did Solomon give him in return? 

-How long after the children of Israel came out of Egypt was it 

when lie began to build the temple ? 


Practical Observations. 

As soon as Solomon was settled upon the throne, he began to 
build the temple at Jerusalem, agreeably to his father David’s order, 
and the will of God himself. He built it in a most magnificent man- 
ner, employing to that end those immense riches God had given 
him ; and spared nothing which might engage his subjects, and all 
the neighbouring nations, to reverence and respect the temple. These 
were marks of zeal which then animated and inspired him. God let. 
him know, that what he had done was acceptable in his sight; and 
that if he and his people inviolably adhered to him, he would always 
be their protector and their God. 

Mutual good offices between neighbours are very desirable and becom¬ 
ing. How beautiful and lovely it is to see these two princes ready to 
serve each other with the products of their respective countries! 
Thus should we act to those about us; be kind and friendly to 
them, ready to sell, or lend, or give, what we have, and which they 
want. This is the way to receive other favours in exchange, and to 
promote the peace and honour of society, and the comfort of one 
another. 

CHAP. LXX. 

Dedication of the Temple, From the eighth Chapter oj 

the first Book of Kmgs, A. M. 3000.—B. C. 1004. 

Now was ended all the work that king Solomon made 
for the house of the Lord. And Solomon brought in the 
things which David his father had dedicated ; even the 
silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among 
the treasures of the house of the Lord. Then Solomon 
assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the 
tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, 
unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up 
the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of Da¬ 
vid, which is Zion. 

Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would 
dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built thee an 
house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for 
ever. And it was in the heart of David my father to 
build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 
And the Lord said unto David my father, V\ hereasit was 
in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst 
well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless, thou shalt 
not build the house ; but thy son that shall come forth out 
of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. And 





148 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


the Lord hath performed his word that he spake, and I 
am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on 
the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built 
an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 

And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the 
presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread 
forth his hands towards heaven: and he said, Lord God 
of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or 
on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with 
thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. 
But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? behold, the 
heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee ; how 
much less this house that I have builded P Yet have thou 
respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his suppli¬ 
cation, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to 
the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day : 
that thine eyes may be open towards this house night and 
day, even towards the place of which thou hast said, My 
name shall be there : that thou mayest hearken unto the 
prayer which thy servant shall make towards this place. 
And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and 
of thy people Israel, when they shall pray towards this 
place : and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place : and 
when thou hearest, forgive. 

If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath 
be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath 
come before thine altar in this house 5 then hear thou in 
heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the 
wicked, to bring his way upon his head ; and justifying 
the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 

When thy people Israel be smitten down before the 
enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall 
turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and 
make supplication unto thee in this house 5 then hear 
thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, 
and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest 
unto their fathers. 

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because 
they have sinned against thee ; if they pray towards this 
place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin. 
when thou afflictest them ; then hear thou in heaven, 
and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Is- 
vael, that thou teach them the good way wherein they 
should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou 
frast given to thy people for an inheritance. 



THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


149 


If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, 
blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if 
their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities, what¬ 
soever plague, whatsoever sickness there be ; what pray¬ 
er and supplication soever be made by any mail, or by 
all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the 
plague ol his own heart, and spread forth his hands to¬ 
wards this house ; then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling- 
place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man accord¬ 
ing to .his ways, whose heart thou knowest ; that they 
may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which 
thou gavest unto our fathers. 

M neover, concerning a stranger, that is not of thy 
people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy 
name’s sake ; when he shall come and pray towards this 
house ; hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and do 
according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; 
that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear 
thee, as do thy people Israel ; and that they may know 
that this house which I have budded is called by thy 
name. 

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, 
whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto 
the Lord towards the city which thou hast chosen, and 
towards the house that I have built for thy name ; then 
hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, 
and maintain their cause. If they sin against thee, for 
there is no man that sinneth not, and thou be angry with 
them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry 
them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or 
near; yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land 
whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make 
supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried 
them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done 
perversely, we have committed wickedness ; and so 
return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their 
soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away 
captive, and pray unto thee towards their land, which 
thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast 
chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name ; 
then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in 
heaven thy dwelling-place, and maintain their cause: 
And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, 
and all their transgressions wherein they have transgress¬ 
ed against thee, and give them compassion before them 

N 2 


150 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


who carried them captive, that they mav have compassion 
on them : For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, 
which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst 
of the furnace of iron : That thine eyes may be open unto 
the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication 
of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that 
they call for unto thee. For thou didst separate them 
from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheri¬ 
tance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, 
when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord 
God. 

And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of 
praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, 
he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling 
on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. And 
he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with 
a loud voice, saying, Blessed be the Lord, that hath given 
rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promis¬ 
ed : there hath not failed one word of all Ids good promise, 
which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 
The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers : 
let him not leave us, nor forsake us : that he may incline 
our hearts unto him, to walk in alibis ways, and to keep 
his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, 
which he commanded our fathers. And let these my 
words wherewith I have made supplication before the 
Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, 
that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause 
of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall re¬ 
quire : That all the people of the earth may know that 
the Lord is God, and that there is none eUe. Let your 
heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to 
walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as 
at this day. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Solomon bring into the temple ?-Whom did he then 

assemble P-In what position was Solomon when lie offered his 

prayer?-In what position was he when lie blessed the people? 


Practical Observations. 

Solomon, with all his wealth and magnificence, never looked so 
truly great and glorious, as he did in the attitude in which this chap¬ 
ter represents him. lie was great on the throne, on the bench of 
justice, in his buildings, furniture and equipage ; but never so truly 
illustrious, as when prostrating himself before God, and leading 
the devotions of Israel. It was for his honour that he could pray, 
and suit his petitions to the occasion with so much propriety and af¬ 
fection. It was for his honour that he was willing to pray before 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


15f 


this vast congregation, and did not turn over the work to an inferior 
person. The reverence of his posture, and the devotion of his 
heart, are worthy the imitation of the greatest men. 

Solomon begged of God to hear all the supplications offered up 
to him in the temple by the Jews, in their several necessities, and 
even by strangers. From this prayer we learn, that all events pro¬ 
ceed from God; that war, famine, pestilence, and other judgments, 
are inflicted by Providence, when men provoke God by their sins; 
that to have recourse to God by prayer, confession of sins, and true 
repentance, is the way to remedy these evils ; and that God is always 
ready to hear and to deliver those who call upon him in their neces¬ 
sities, and with all their heart turn unto him. 


— 

CHAP. LXXI. 

God’s Covenant with Solomon . From the ninth Chapter 

of the first Book of Kings. A. M. 3012.—B. C. 992. 

And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished 
the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s 
house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to 
do, that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, 
as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the Lord 
said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplica¬ 
tion that thou hast made before me : I have hallowed this 
house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for¬ 
ever ; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there per¬ 
petually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy 
father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, 
to do according to all that 1 have commanded thee, and 
wilt keep my statutes and my judgments ; then I will 
establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, 
as 1 promised to David thy father, saying, There shall 
not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye 
shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children,, 
and will not keep my commandments and my statutes 
which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, 
and worship them ; then will I cut off* Israel out of the 
1 ad which I have given them; and this house which I 
have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight ; 
and Israel shall be a proverb and a by-word among all 
people : And at this house, which is high, every one that 
passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss ; and they 
shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, 
and to this house P And they shall answer, Because they 
forsook the Lord their God, w ho brought forth their fathers 
out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other 


152 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


gods, and have worshipped them, and served them : there- 
fore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil. 


Practical Observations. 

The caution which God gave Solomon in this chapter reminds us 
that if we desire the continuance of our privileges, we must, be an 
obedient and holy people. No establishment of the externals of relig¬ 
ion, no splendor of the Church, or forms of worhip, can secure the 
divine favour, and lengthen our tranquillity, without obedience to 
God’s laws and keeping his commandments. Let us impress this 
truth upon our hearts, that we may not be high-minded, but fear ; 
and let every particular person remember, that doing the will of God 
is necessary to the acceptance of our prayers, and the continuance of 
the divine blessing. 

CHAP. LXXII. 

The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon. From the tenth 

Chapter of the first Book of Kings. A. M. 3012.— 
B. C. 992. 

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of 
Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to 
prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jeru¬ 
salem with a very great train, with camels that bare spi¬ 
ces, and very much gold, and precious stones : ami when 
she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all 
that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her 
questions : there was not any thing hid from the king, 
which he told her not. 

And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s 
wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of 
his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attend¬ 
ance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cup-bear¬ 
ers, and his ascent by which lie went up unto the house of 
the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 

And she said to the king, It was a true report that I 
heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 
Howbeit, I believed not the words, until I came, and 
mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the half was not told 
me : thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame 
which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy 
servants, which stand continually before thee, and that 
hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which 
delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel : 
because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made he 
thee king, to do judgment and justice. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


153 


And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents 
ol gold, and of spices very great store, and precious 
stones : there came no more such abundance of spices as 
these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 
And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her 
desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon 
gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to 
her own country, she and her servants. 

QUESTIONS. 

For what purpose did the queen of Sheba visit Solomon ?-What 

did she say after she had seen all his riches f -What did she give 

him ?-Where did she then go P 


Practical Observations. 

The experience of the queen had taught her how happy is that 
people whose rulers delight in wisdom and in virtue. She magnifies 
the God of Israel—she blesses Solomon—she congratulates his sub¬ 
jects. “ Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighteth in thee, to 
set thee on the throne of Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel for¬ 
ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.”— 
But, O God, how hast thou loved thy chosen Israel, the Church, in 
setting over us that righteous branch of Jesse, whose name is Won¬ 
derful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the 
Prince of Peace ? In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall 
dwell safely ; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The 
Lord our Righteousness. Sing, O heaven, and rejoice, O earth ; 
break forth into singing, O mountains, for the Lord hath comforted 
his people, and will have everlasting mercy upon his heritage. 

-»*»#©#•*«'*- 

CHAP. LXXIII. 

Elijah raiseth the Widow's Son. From the seventeenth 

Chapter of the first Book of Kings. A. M. 3015.— 
B. C. 909. 

And the word of the Lord came unto Elijah, saving, 
Arise, get thee to Zar'ephath, which belongeth to Zidon, 
and dwell there : behold, I have commanded a widow 
woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to 
Zar'ephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, 
behold, a widow woman was there gathering of sticks : 
and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a 
little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 

And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and 
said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine 
hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have 
not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a 






154 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


little oil in a cruse : and behold, I am gathering two 
sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, 
'ihat we may eat it, and die. 

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not ; go and do as thou 
hast said : but make me thereof a little cake first, and 
bring it unto me, and aft er make for thee and for thy son. 
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel ot meal 
shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until 
the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And 
she went and did according to the saying of Elijah : and 
she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the 
barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil 
fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake 
by Elijah. 

And it came tojiass after these things, that the son of 
the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick ; and his 
sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 
And she said unto Elijah, what have I to do with thee, O 
thou man of God ? art thou come unto me to call my sin 
to remembrance, and to slay my son ? And he said unto 
her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, 
and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid 
him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the Lord, and 
said, () Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon 
the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son ? 
And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and 
cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray 
thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the 
Lord heard the voice of Elijah ; and the soul of the child 
came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took 
the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into 
the house, and delivered him unto his mother : and Elijah 
said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah, 
Now -by this 1 know that thou art a man of God, and that 
the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. 

QUESTIONS. 

To what place was Elijah directed to go ?-Whom did he find 

at the gate of the city ?-What did he direct her to do ?-What 

miracle did he perform for her in lengthening out her provisions ? 
-What other miracle did he perform for her ? 


Practical Observations. 

We learn to be liberal, even of a little. If God has given us but 
little, let us be ready to do good to others, to let them share will) us. 
Water was at that time a scarce commodity ; yet the poor widow 













THE BIBLICAL READER. 


155 




in her great necessity, was ready to rel'eve a stranger. Those who 
are in low circumstances have no excuse for being uncharitable. 
Let every one give of his little. Even a cup of cold water shall not 
lose its reward 

The consideration of this wonderful instance of God’s care and 
concern for his distressed servants, should strongly influence and turn 
our hearts to regard him as the fountain of all goodneLS, who sees 
oar necessities, and is able to supply them in all extremities. And it 
should convince us that it is our wisest and best policy to secure to 
oivselves tiie favour of such an omnipotent Benefactor by rendering 
him the homage of our prayers, the confession of our lips, the obedi¬ 
ence of our whole lives, against all the temptations of worldly fear or 
favour which can be offered to prevent us. 

44^ 

CHAP. LXXIY. 

Translation of Elijah , and Elisha divideth Jordan. 

From the second Chapter of the second Book of Kings. 

A. M. 3108.—B. C. 896. 

And it came to pass, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask 
what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. 
And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy 
spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard 
thing : nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken 
from thee, it shail be so unto thee ; but if not, it shall not 
be so. And it came to pass, as they went on, and talked, 
that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of 
fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up 
by a whirlwind into heaven. 

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, 
the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And 
he saw him no more : and he took hold of his own clothes, 
and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle 
of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by 
the b.*.nk of Jordan ; and he took the mantle of Elijah 
that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, 
Where is the Lord God of Elijah ? And when he also 
had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither : 
and Elisha went over. And the sons of the prophets 
said, Tim spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they 
came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground 
before him. 

And the men of Jericho said unto Elisha, Behold, I 
pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord 
seeth : but the water is naught, and the ground barren. 
And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. 
And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the 







156 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, 
Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters ; there 
shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to 
the saying of Elisha, which he spake. 

And he went up from thence unto Beth'el: and as he 
was going up by the way, there came forth little children 
out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go 
up, thou bald-head ; go up, thou bald-head. And he 
turned back, and looked on them ; and there came forth 
two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two 
children ol them. And he went from thence to mount 
Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria. 

QUESTIONS. 

What became of Elijah ?-Who took his mantle ?-What 

miracle did he perform upon Jordan ?-What one did he perform 

in Jericho ?-What took place as he was going up to Bethel ? 


Practical Observations. 

The taking up of the prophet Elijah into heaven is a miraculous 
event, in which we see how God was pleased to reward the extraor¬ 
dinary zeal of this great prophet, and to teach men, at the same time, 
that he reserves in heaven a blessed state for those that shall have 
served him faithfully. Besides this we have, in the ascension of Eli¬ 
jah, a type of that of Jesus Christ, which is yet a stronger proof to us 
that there is a better life after this prepared for the righteous. 

The death of the forty-two children of Bethel, who were devoured 
by two bears, was designed by God to confirm the calling of Elisha 
among an idolatrous people ; to terrify the king of Israel and his peo¬ 
ple ; and to punish the inhabitants of Bethel, the place where idola¬ 
try was publickly practised, and where the prophets of the Lord were 
despised and rejected. 

It was expedient such examples as these should now and then be 
made, and that God should give proofs of his wrath, in a kingdom 
where the worship of idols was appointed and supported by publick 
authority. 


CHAP. LXXV. 

Elisha preserveth the Widow's Oil , and raiseth to Life 
the Shunamite's Son. From the fourth Chapter of the 
second Book of Kings. A. M. 3109.—B. C. 895. 

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the 
sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant 
my husband is dead ; and thou knowest that thy servant 
did fear the Lord : and the creditor is come to take unto 
him my two sons to be bond-men. And Elisha said unto 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


157 


her, YV hat shall I do for thee P tell me, what hast thou 
in the house ? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not 
any thing in the house save a pot of oil. 

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all 
thy neighbours, even empty vessels ; borrow not a few. 
And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon 
thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those 
vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 

So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and 
upon her sons, wlio brought the vessels to her; and 
she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels 
were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a ves¬ 
sel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. 
And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man ot 
God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, 
and live thou and thy children of the rest. 

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, 
where was a great woman ; and she constrained him to 
eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, 
he turned in thither to eat bread. And he said to Gehazi 
his servant, Call this Shunamite. And when he had 
called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, 
Say now unto her, Behold thou hast been careful for us 
with all this care ; what is to be done for thee ? wouldest 
thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the 
host ? And she answered, I dwell among mine own peo¬ 
ple. And he said, What then is to be done for her P 
And Gehazi answered, Verily, she hath no child, and her 
husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he 
had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, 
About this season, thou shalt embrace a son. 

And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that 
he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said 
unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a 
lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken 
him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees 
till noon, and then died. And she went up, and laid 
him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door up¬ 
on him, and went out. And she called unto her hus¬ 
band, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one ot the young 
men, that I may run to the man ot God, and come again. 
And he said. Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day ? it 
is neither new-moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It 
shall be well. Then she said to her servant, Drive, and 
go forward ; slack not thy riding for me, except 1 bid thee. 

O 


158 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


So she went and came unto the man of God to mount 
Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God 
saw her afar oft*, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Be¬ 
hold, yonder is that Shunamite : run now, I pray thee, 
to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee ? Is it 
well with thy husband ? Is it well with the child ? and 
she answered, It is well. And when she came to the 
man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet 5 but 
Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of 
God said, Let her alone ; for her soul is vexed within 
her : and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not 
told me. 

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord ? did I 
not say, Do not deceive me ? Then he said to Gehazi, 
Gird up thy loins, and take my staff* in thine hand, and go 
thy way : if thou meet any man, salute him not : and if 
any salute thee, answer him not again : and lay my 
staff* upon the face of the child. And the mother of the 
child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I 
will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 
And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff* 
upon the face of the child : but there was neither voice, 
nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, 
and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the 
child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in 
therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and pray¬ 
ed unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the 
child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his 
eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands : and 
he stretched himself upon the child 5 and the flesh of the 
child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in 
the house to and fro $ and went up, and stretched himself 
upon him : and the child sneezed seven times, and the 
child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, 
Call this Shunamite. So he called her. And when she 
was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then 
she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to 
the ground, and took up her son, and went out. 

QUESTIONS. 

What miracle did Elidia perform for a poor widow ? ——To what 

place did he then go ?-Who was his servant at this time ?- By 

what name was the woman called with whom he eat and drank at 
Shunem —What miracle did he perform upon her son ? 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


159 


Practical Observations. 

God after he had given a son to the Shunamite, was pleased he 
should die, that he might restore him to her again by a miracle. 
The proceeding of this woman, who, as soon as her son w as dead, 
wen? immediately to seek for Elisha, shows her surprising faith, and 
her hope that the same prophet who had promised the birth of the 
child, would restore him to life; and she was not disappointed of 
her hope. God often afflicts his children in the most sensible man¬ 
ner, that he may afterward give them stronger tokens of his love 
by delivering them and giving them a happy issue out of their afflic¬ 
tions, and making them serve to confirm them in the faith and in the 
fear of the Lord. 

CHAP. LXXVI. 

Na'aman cured of Leprosy , and Gehazi smitten . From 

the fifth Chapter of the second Book of Kings . A. M. 

3110.—B. C. 894. 

Now Na'aman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, 
was a great man with his master, and honourable, be¬ 
cause by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria : 
he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. 
And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had 
brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little 
maid ; and she waited on Na'aman’s wife. And she said 
unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the 
prophet that is in Samaria ! for he would recover him of 
his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, 
Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. 

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send 
a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and 
took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand 
pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And he 
brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now 
when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have there¬ 
with sent Na'aman my servant to thee, that thou mayest 
recover him of his leprosy. And it came to pass, when 
the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his 
clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, 
that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his 
leprosy P Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how 
he seeketh a quarrel against me. 

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard 
that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent 
to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes ? 
Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is 
a prophet in Israel. So Na'aman came with his horses 


160 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house 
of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, say¬ 
ing, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh 
shall come again unto thee, and thou shalt be clean. 

But Na'aman was wroth, and went away, and said, 
Behold, T thought, He will surely come out to me, and 
stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and 
strike his hand over the place and recover the leper. Are 
not Ab'ana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than 
all the waters of Israel P May I not wash in them and be 
clean ? So he turned and went away in a rage. 

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and 
said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some 
great thing, wouldest thou not have done it ? How much 
rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean r 
Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in 
Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God : and 
his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, 
and he was clean. 

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his 
company, and came and stood before him : and he said. 
Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the 
earth, but in Israel : now therefore, I pray thee, take a 
blessing of thy servant. But he said, As the Lord liveth, 
before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urg¬ 
ed him to take it; but he refused. 

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, 
said, Behold, my master hath spared Na'aman this Syr¬ 
ian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: 
but as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take 
somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Na'aman. 
And when Na'aman saw him running after him, he light¬ 
ed down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all 
well ? And he said, All is well. Mv master hath sent 
me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from 
mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the proph¬ 
ets : give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and 
two changes of garments. And Na'aman said, Be content, 
take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two 
talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of gar¬ 
ments, and laid them upon two of his servants : and 
they bare them before him. 

And when he came to the tower, he took them from 
their hand, and bestowed them in the house : and he let 
the men go, and they departed. But he went in, and 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


161 


stood before his master; and Elisha said unto him, 
Whence comestthou, Gehazi ? and he said, Thy servant 
went no whither. And he said unto him, Went not 
mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from 
his chariot to meet thee ? Is it a time to receive money, 
and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, 
and sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and maid-ser¬ 
vants ? The leprosy therefore of Na'aman shall cleave 
unto thee and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out 
Irom his presence a leper as white as snow. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who was Na'aman ?-Who informed him of the prophet Elisha ? 

-To whom did the king of Syria send him ?-What induced 

Elisha to send to the king of Israel ?-What did Elisha direct Na'a¬ 

man to do? ■■■■-Who induced Na'aman to eomply with the direction,? 
-How came Gehazi to be smitten with the leprosy ? 

Practical Observations. 

We should apply the example of Na'aman to ourselves ; we should 
be cautious how we despise the ordinances enjoined upon us because 
they are common, easy and plain ; and should rather persuade our¬ 
selves, that the plainness and easiness of these ordinances should be 
a great inducement to us to join in them, and to try what benefit we 
can derive from them. 

How can these waters of Jordan cleanse my leprosy ?. said Na'a¬ 
man. How can the water of baptism, and the bread and wine in the 
other sacraments, the Christian is too apt to ask, produce those great 
effects for which they are instituted ? The answer is, by virtue o. 
this very institution, because our great Prophet, the divine Author 
of our religion, has blessed them, and appointed them to be the 
means of salvation. If be bad enjoined us to perform much harder 
services for the attainment of his promises, common prudence would 
have told us it was our best way to obey him. But now, that he 
has made these small and easy observances the conditions of our hap¬ 
piness, how much more readily should we hearken to him, how much 
more punctually perform what is commanded ! 

-***©##*•-- 

CHAP. LXXVII. 

Hezekiah’s Sickness. From the twentieth Chapter of the 
second Hook of Kinoes. A. M. 3291.—33. C. 713. 

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the 
prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said 
unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; 
for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face 
to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, l beseech 
thee, 0 Lord, remember now how I have walked before 
thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that 
which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 





162 


the biblical reader. 


And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the 
middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, 
saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain ot 
my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy 
father, I have heard thy prayer, l have seen thy tears: 
behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go 
up unto the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy 
days fifteen years j and I will deliver thee and this city 
out of the hand of the king of Assyria $ and I will defend 
this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s 
sake. And Isaiah said. Take a lump of figs. And 
they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign 
that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into 
the house of the Lord the third day ? And Isaiah said, 
This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will 
do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go 
forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees ? And Hez¬ 
ekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go 
down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return back¬ 
ward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the 
Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, 
by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Isaiah say to Ko^ekiah P-What did Hezekiah do ? 

--What did Isaiah then say to him ? -What sign was given to 

satisfy Hezekiah that he would recover ? 


Practical Observations. 

Secret, earnest prayer is the approved and never failing method of 
obtaining relief and comfort in seasons of the deepest distress ; and, 
sometimes the Lord immediately turns the mourning of the humble 
supplicant, into joy and thanksgiving. He always hears the prayers 
and seeks the tears of the broken in heart, and will give health, length, 
of days, and temporal deliverances, as much, and as long as they are 
truly beneficial. 

CHAP. LXXVIII. 

David’s Hymn of Thanksgiving. From the sixteenth 
Chapter of the first Book of Chronicles. This Hymn is 
entirely made up of parts of three Psalms ivhich occur 
in the Book of Psalms—Namely , CV, XCVI, and C VI. 

Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make 
known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


163 


psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice 
that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek 
his face continually. Remember his marvellous works 
that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his 
mouth, 0 ye seed of Israel, his servant, ye children of 
Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God ; his 
judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always 
of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thou¬ 
sand generations; even of the covenant which he 
made with Abraham, of his oath unto Isaac ; and hath 
confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for 
an everlasting covenant, Saying, unto thee will I give 
the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance ; when 
ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. And 
when they went from nation to nation, and from one king¬ 
dom to another people, he suffered no man to do them 
wrong : yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, 
Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 
Sing unto the Lord, all the earth : shew forth from day 
to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the hea¬ 
then ; his marvellous works among all nations. For 
great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; he also is to 
be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people 
are idols : but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and 
honour are in his presence ; strength and gladness are in 
his place. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the peo¬ 
ple, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the 
Lord the glory due unto his name : bring an offering, and 
come before him : worship the Lord in the beauty of holi¬ 
ness. Fear before him, all the earth: the world also 
shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens 
be glad, and ht the earth rejoice: and let men say among 
the nations, The Lord reigneth. Let the sea roar, and 
the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that 
is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at 
the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the 
earth. O give thanks unto the Lord : for he is good; 
for his mercy endureth forever. And say ye, Save us, 
O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliv¬ 
er us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy 
holy name, and glory in thy praise. Blessed be the Lord 
God of Israel for ever and ever. And ail the people 
said, Amen, and praised the Lord. 


164 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Practical Observations. 


It is a good and pleasant thing to be thankful, and we should 
carefully record and frequently review the Lord’s mercies, to us and 
to his Church, that we may be excited to abound in joyful praises 
and ministers are especially appointed by the son of David our King, 
to animate and assist the people, thus to glorify and rejoice in God, 
by preaching to them the gospel of salvation, and by every other 
means in their power. The streams of mercy we partake of should 
be traced back to that fountain of love whence they are derived ; and 
in thanking the Lord for his benefits to us, we should celebrate the 
glorious excellences of his nature. This will also encourage our own 
faith and hope, and excite the attention of others to observe 
and admire his marvellous works : and therefore we should be unre¬ 
served and open, in singing and speaking forth the praises of our 
God. 


CHAP. LXXIX. 

David’s Preparation for the Temple. From the twenty 
second Chapter of the first Book if Chronicles. A. M. 
2987.—B. C. 1017. For the Building of the Temple , 
see Chapter LX1X. 

Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, 
and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel. And 
David commanded to gather together the strangers that 
were in the land of Israel ; and he set masons to hew 
wrought stones to build the house of God. And David 
prepared iron in abundance for the nails, for the doors of 
the gates, and for the joinings ; and brass in abundance 
without weight; also cedar trees in abundance : fur the 
Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to 
David. And David said, Solomon my son is young and 
tender, and the house that is to be budded for the Lord 
must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory 
throughout all countries : I will therefore now make prepa¬ 
ration for it. So David prepared abundantly before his 
death. 

Then he called for Solomon his son. and charged him 
to build an house for the Lord God of Israel. And Da¬ 
vid said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my 
mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my 
God : but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou, 
hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars : 
thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because 
thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 
Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of 
rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies 
round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will 
give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


165 


shall build an house for my name ; and he shall be my 
son, and 1 will be his father ; and I will establish the 
throne ot his kingdom over Israel for ever. 

Now, my son, the Lord be with thee ; and prosper 
thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he 
hath said of thee. Only the Lord give thee wisdom and 
understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, 
that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God. 
Thenshalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the 
statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses 
. with concerning Israel ; be strong, and of good courage ; 
dread not, nor be dismayed. Now behold, in my trouble 
I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred 
thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents 
of silver ; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is 
in abundance : timber also and stone have I prepared ; 
and thou mayest add thereto. Moreover, there are 
workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers 
of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for 
every manner of work. Of the gold, the silver, and the 
brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise, there¬ 
fore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. 

David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help 
Solomon his son, saying, Is not the Lord your God with 
you P and hath he not given you rest on every side ? for 
he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand ; 
and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before his 
people. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the 
Lord your God ; arise, therefore, and build ye the sanctu¬ 
ary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of 
the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house 
that is to be built to the name of the Lord. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did David do before his death ?-What did he then com¬ 
mand his son Solomon ?-On what did he tell Solomon his pros¬ 
perity would depend ?-What did David command the princes 

to do ? 


Practical Observations. 

King David gave noble proofs of his piety towards the end of his 
reign. But not content with serving God by calling upon him, and 
giving thanks for his mercies in his own life, he was desirous they 
should build a temple to his honour; and consecrated all the riches 
and materials he could get together, for the execution of his pious 
designs. But David’s zeal and religion is discovered particularly in 
his exhortations to his son Solomon, charging him to fear God, to 






166 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


keep his commandments, and to govern his people righteously, as¬ 
suring him that this would be the foundation of all his happiness. 
All Christians, and in particular those who are in authority, or who 
have riches, ought to have at heart the support of religion, and the 
service of God. Parents especially should recommend to their 
children piety, and the keeping God’s commandments, as the whole 
happiness of their families. There is a particular reflection to be 
made on God’s not approving David’s building the temple at Jerusa¬ 
lem, because he had been a man of war, and had shed much blood, 
and therefore God was pleased this design should be rather executed 
by h is son Solomon. From whence we mav conclude, that God, 
who is a God of peace, does not delight in blood ; that, if any wars 
are just and necessary, they are a great evil, and that by peace and 
tranquillity, rather than by confusion and trouble, his kingdom is pro- * 
moted and advanced. 




CHAP. LXXX. 


Ezra mourneth , and prayeth to God. From the ninth 
Chapter of Ezra. A. M. 3547.—B. C. 457. 

And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heavi¬ 
ness ; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell 
upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord 
my God. And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush 
to lift up my face to thee, my God : for our iniquities are 
increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up 
unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we 
been in a great trespass unto this day ; and for our iniqui¬ 
ties have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered 
into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to 
captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, 
as it is this day. And now for a little space grace hath 
been showed from the Lord our God, to leave us a rem¬ 
nant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, 
that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little 
reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen ; yet 
our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath 
extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Per¬ 
sia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, 
and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a 
wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. And now, O our God, 
what shall we say after this r for we have forsaken thy. 
commandments, which thou hast commanded by thy ser¬ 
vants, the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go 
to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of 
the people of the lands, with their abominations, which 
have filled it from one end to another with their unclean¬ 


ness. Now therefore give not your daughters unto their 




THE BIBLICAL READElt. 


167 


sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor 
seek their peace or their wealth for ever : that ye may 
be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for 
an inheritance to your children for ever. And after all 
that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great 
trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less 
than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliv¬ 
erance as this ; should we again break thy command¬ 
ments, and join in affinity with the people of these abom¬ 
inations ; wouldest not thou be angry with us, till thou 
hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor 
escaping ? O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous : for 
we remain yet escaped, as it is this day : behold we are 
before thee in our trespasses : for we cannot stand be¬ 
fore thee because of this. 


Practical Observations. 

The prayer which Ezra made on this occasion is very instructive. 
He herein acknowledges with profound humility, that the sins of the 
Jews had obliged the Lord to chastise them, and had reduced them 
to the servile condition in which they were. This shows that in the 
evils which we suffer we should always give glory to God, and ac¬ 
knowledge the righteousness of his judgments. And as Ezra, after 
lie had confessed the sins of the Jews, promised they should no more 
break the law of God, we must acknowledge that the method of ob¬ 
taining God’s grace and the remission of his past sins, is to forsake 
those sins, by a speedy and sincere conversion, and to take care not 
to fall into them again. 

CHAP. LXXXI. 

Nehemiah mourneth and fastetli , and his Prayer. From 

the first Chapter of Nehemiah. A. M. 3558.—B. C. 

446. 

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it 
came to pass that Han'ani, one of my brethren, came, he 
and certain men of Judah ; and I asked them concerning 
the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, 
and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The 
remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province 
are in great affliction and reproach : the wall of Jerusalem 
also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned 
with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, 
that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and 
fasted, and prayed betore the God of heaven, and said, 
I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terri¬ 
ble God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that 
love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now 



168 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest heal 
the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, 
day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and 
confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have 
sinned against thee : both I and my father’s house have sin¬ 
ned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have 
not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the 
judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 
Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou command¬ 
edst thy servant Moses, saying, if ye transgress, I will 
scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn 
unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them ; 
though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part 
of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and 
will bring them into the place that I have chosen 
to set my name there. Now these are thy servants 
and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy 
great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I 
beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer 
oj- thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who 
desire to fear thy name : and prosper, I pray thee, thy 
servant this day, and grant him mercy in tne sight of this 
man. For 1 was the king’s cup-bearer. 

QUESTIONS. 

Whose son was Nehemiah ?-Who came to him ?-What did 

lie ask them P-What was their reply ?-What did he do on 

learning the distress of his brethren at Jerusalem ?-What officer 

was he to the king ? 


Practical Observations. 

We have in this chapter marks of the most ardent piety in Nehemiah. 
This appears in his grief, to hear the deplorable state the city of 
Jerusalem and all the Jews were in, and in that excellent and fer¬ 
vent prayer which he made to implore the mercy of God on their 
behalf, to obtain pardon for their sins, and their complete restoration. 
All those w r ho fear God, and especially those who are in an exalted 
station, should, like Nehemiah, be more concerned for the Church of 
God than for any other thing ; should sympathise in the evils that 
befal it, pray continually for it, and labour as much as possible to 
promote its happiness and prosperity. 

CHAP. LXXXII. 

The reading and hearing the Law. From the eighth 
Chapter of Nehemiah. A. M. 3559.—B. C. 445. 

And all the people gathered themselves together as. 
one man into the street that was before the water-gate ; 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


169 


and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of 
the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to 
Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the 
congregation both of men and women, and all that could 
hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh 
month. And he read therein before the street that was 
before the water-gate from the morning until mid-day, 
before the men and the women, and those that could 
understand ; and the ears of all the people were attentive 
unto the book of the law. 

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which 
they had made for the purpose; and opened the 
book in the sight of all the people; for he was above ail 
the people ; and when he opened it, all the people stood 
up : And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And 
all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up 
their hands : and they bowed their heads, and worshipped 
the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read 
in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the 
sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 

And Nehemiah, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the 
Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people. 
This day is holy unto the Lord your God ; mourn not, nor 
weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the 
words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, 
eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto 
them for whom nothing is prepared : for this day is holy un¬ 
to our Lord : neither be ye sorry ; for the joy of the Lord 
is your strength. Also day by day, from the first day unto 
the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And 
they kept the feast seven days ; and on the eighth day was 
a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where were the people gathered together ?-What did they re* 

quest of Ezra?-What did the people say, when the law was 

read ?-What effect did it produce on them ?-What did Ezra 

say when he saw them weep ? 

Practical Observations. 

It is impossible for any person to read this chapter concerning the 
bringing out the book of the law, and reading it in the ears of all the 
' people, without being greatly moved and anected by it, a? it shows 
ns the religious affection and regard which the Jews had for the 
Holy Scriptures. The devout manner of reading it, and the religious 
attention, and becoming reverence with which it was heard, are 
excellently described ; but the most affecting circumstance of all is 

P 








170 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


that which follows, that, “All the people wept, when they heard the 
words of the law.” Happy, indeed, would it be, if the Christian 
world, had the same pious regard for the book of God ; that they 
would be often mindful to take it up, and read therein with 
all devout attention, and lay up the words thereof in their 
hearts and in their souls ! And may we not only lay up the word of 
God in our memories, but labour to bring forth the happy fruits thereof 
in our lives and conversation •, that so, that sacred Book, which was 
given to make us wise unto salvation, may never rise up against us, 
and condemn us at the last day. 

CHAP. LXXXIII. 

A solemn Fast appointed , and Repentanc e of the People. 

From the ninth Chapter of Nehemiah. A. M. 3559. 

—B. C. 445. 

Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the 
children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with 
sackclothes, and earth upon them. And stood and con¬ 
fessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And 
they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the 
law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day ; and 
another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the 
Lord their God. 

Then stood up the Levites and said. Thou, even thou, 
art Lord alone ; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of 
heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things 
that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and 
thou preservest them all ; and the host of heaven 
worshippeth thee. Thou art the Lord the God, who 
didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur 
of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham ; 
and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a 
covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, to 
give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words ; 
for thou art righteous : And didst see the affliction of our 
fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea. 
And showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on 
all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for 
thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So 
didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day. And thou 
didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through 
the midst of the sea on the dry land ; and their persecutors 
thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty 
waters. 

Moreover, thou leddest them in the day by a cloud) 
pillar j and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


171 


Hght in the way wherein they should go. Thou earnest 
down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from 
heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, 
good statutes and commandments $ and madest known 
unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them pre¬ 
cepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy ser¬ 
vant : And gavest them bread from heaven for their hun¬ 
ger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock 
lor their thirst, and promisedst them that the)’ should go 
in to possess the land which thou hast sworn to give 
them. 

Hut they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened 
their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments j 
and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy won¬ 
ders that thou didst among them : But thou art a God 
ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, 
and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. Yea, 
when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This 
is my God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had 
wrought great provocations ; yet thou in thy manifold 
mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness : the P ii- 
lar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead 
them in the way ; neither the pillar of fire by night, to 
show them light, and the way wherein they should go. 
Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and 
withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest 
them water for their thirst. Yea, forty years didst thou 
sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked noth¬ 
ing : their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled 
not. 

Moreover, thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and 
didst divide them into corners. Their children also 
multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest 
them into the land, concerning which thou hadst prom¬ 
ised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess 
it. So the children went in and possessed the land, 
and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the 
land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, 
with their kings, and the people of the land, that they 
might do with them as they would. And they took 
strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all 
goods, wells digged, vineyards and oliveyards, and fruit 
trees in abundance : so they did eat, and were filled, and be¬ 
came fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


m 

Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and rebelled 
against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, 
and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn 
them to thee, and they wrought great provocations* 
Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their 
enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trou¬ 
ble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from 
heaven ; and according to thy manifold mercies thou 
gavest them saviours, who saved them out ot the hand ol 
their enemies. 

But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee : 
therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, 
so that they had the dominion over them : yet when they 
returned and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from 
heaven : and many times didst thou deliver them according 
to thy mercies ; and testifiedst against them, that thou 
mightest bring them again unto thy law : yet they dealt 
proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but 
sinned against thy judgments, which if a man do, he shall 
live in them ; and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened 
their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years didst 
thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy 
spirit in thy prophets : yet would they not give ear : there¬ 
fore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the 
lands. Nevertheless, for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst 
not utterly consume them, nor forsake them 5 for thou 
art a gracious and merciful God. 

Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the 
terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not 
all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come 
upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, 
and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy 
people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 
Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us ; for 
thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly : Neither 
have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, 
kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and 
thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against 
them. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, 
and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and 
in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, 
neither turned they from their wicked works. Behold, we 
are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest un¬ 
to our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, 
behold, we are servants in it ; And itvieldeth much in- 






THE BIBLICAL READER* 


1 73 

crease unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because 
of our sins : also they have dominion over our bodies, and 
over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great dis¬ 
tress. And because of all this we make a sure covenant, 
and write it ; and our princes, Levites, and priests, sea! 
unto it. 


Practical Observations. 

What is chiefly to be observed in this prayer is—The Jews adore 
the power and majesty of the most high God ; solemnly acknowl¬ 
edge the mercies their nation had received from him in Egypt, in the 
wilderness, and in the land of Canaan, and his forbearance and long 
suffering towards them ; they confess their sins and rebellions, and 
their abuse of his favors ; they own too that God had justly chastised 
them, by sending them into captivity, and subjecting them to strange 
princes. They then enter into a solemn engagement never more to 
return to their old sins, but to keep inviolably the covenant which 
they then renewed with the Lord. We should make a useful appli¬ 
cation to ourselves of all the parts of this excellent prayer ; we 
should frequently read it, and learn from it to praise and adore God, 
to acknowledge the favours he bestows upon us in general, and upon 
every one in particular : they especially, whose circumstances some¬ 
what resemble those of the Jews at that time, and who have been 
made to pass through divers trials and afflictions, ought, from hence, 
to learn to confess their sins and ingratitude, to celebrate his for¬ 
bearances, to be more faithful to him for time to come, and relig¬ 
iously to perform the conditions of his covenant.. 

-*►*■© 

CHAP. LXXXIV. 

Haman and Mordecai. From the third , fourth, fifth, 

sixth , and seventh Chapters of Esther . A. M. 3494.— 

B. C. 510. 

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a 
certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the 

f teople in all the provinces of thy kingdom : and their 
aws are diverse from all people ; neither keep they the 
kind’s laws : therefore it is not for the king’s profit to 
suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that 
they may be destroyed r and I will pay ten thousand tal¬ 
ents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of 
the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. 

And the king took hi& ring from his hand, and gave it 
unto Haman the Jews’ enemy. And the king said unto 
Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to 
do with them as it seemeth gooH to thee. Then were the 
king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first 
month, and there was written according to all that Haman 

P 2 



174 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the 
governors that were over every province, and to the 
rulers of every people of every province ; and the let¬ 
ters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to 
destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both 
young and old, little children and women in one day, 
and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Morde- 
cai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, 
and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a 
loud and a bitter cry $ and came even before the king’s 
gate ; for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed 
with sackcloth. And in every province whithersoever the 
king’s commandment and his decree came, there was 
great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weep¬ 
ing, and wailing ; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put 
on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the 
king’s house, over against the king’s house ; and the 
king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over 
against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the 
king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she 
obtained favour in his sight : and the king held out to 
Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So 
Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre. 

Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen 
Esther ? and what is thy request ? it shall be even given 
thee to the half of the kingdom. And Esther answered, If 
it seem good unto the king, let the king and Hainan come 
this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. 
Then the king said, Cause Hainan to make haste, that he 
may do as Esther hath said. Scr the king and Hainan 
came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 

Then went Hainan forth that day joyful and with a 
glad heart: but when Hainan saw Mordecai in the king’s 
gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, lie was 
full of indignation against Mordecai. And when he came 
home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his 
wife. And Hainan told them of the glory of his riches, 
and the multitude of his children, and all the things 
wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had ad¬ 
vanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 
Hainan said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no 
man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


175 


prepared but myself: yet all this availeth me nothing, 
so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kin<^s 
gate. 

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him. 
Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to-mor¬ 
row speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be 
hanged thereon : then go thou in merrily with the king 
unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Hainan : and 
he caused the gallows to be made. 

On that night could not the king sleep, and he com¬ 
manded to bring the book of records of the chronicles ; 
and they were read before the king. And it was found 
written, that Mordecai had told of two of the king’s 
chamberlains who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasue- 
rus. And the king said, What honour and dignity hath 
been done to Mordecai for this ? Then said the king’s 
servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done 
for him. And the king said, Who is in the court ? Now 
Hainan was come into the outward court of the king’s 
house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the 
gallows that he had prepared for him. 

And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman 
standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come 
in. So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, 
What shall be done unto the man whom the king delight¬ 
eth to honour ? Now Haman thought in his heart, To 
whom would the king delight to do honour more than to 
myself ? 

And Haman answered the king. For the man whom 
the king delighteth to honour, let the royal apparel be 
brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that 
the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set 
upon his head. And let this apparel and horse be deliv¬ 
ered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, 
that they may array the man withal whom the king 
delighteth to honour, *and bring him on horseback through 
the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus 
shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to 
honour. 

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take 
the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even 
so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate : 
let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Then took 
Haman the apparel, and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, 
and brought him on horseback through the street of the 


176 


THE BIBLICAL READER- 


city, and proclaimed before him. Thus shall it be done 
unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 

And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But 
Hainan hasted to his house mourning, and having his head 
covered. And the king said again to Esther on the sec¬ 
ond day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, 
queen Esther ? and it shall be granted thee : and what 
is thy request ? and it shall be performed, even to the 
half of the kingdom. 

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have 
have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the 
king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people 
at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be 
destroyed, to be slain and to perish. But if we had been 
sold for bond-men and bond-women, I had held my tongue* 
although the enemy could not countervail the king’s 
damage. 

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther 
the queen, W ho is he, and where is he, that durst presume 
in his heart to do so ? And Esther said. The adversary 
and enemy is this wicked Hainan. Then Hainan was 
afraid before the king and the queen. And one of the 
chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also the gallows 
fifty cubits high, which Hainan had made for Mordecai, 
who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house 
of Hainan. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So 
they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared 
for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacilied. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who induced king Ahasuerus to issue a decree to destroy the 
Jews ?-Who came before the king’s gate and lamented the mis¬ 

eries of the Jews ? Who was queen to the king ? Of what natiun 

was she P-Who persuaded Haman to build a gallows for Morde¬ 
cai ?-How came the favorable attention of the king to be turned 

towards Mordecai ?-What became of Haman ? 


Practical Observations. 

When iniquitous enterprises, managed by subtilty or violence, are 
suddenly and seasonably defeated, then the ever vigilant Eye, and 
the all powerful Hand are concerned. God doth ever see the deceit¬ 
ful workers of iniquity, though they devise their wickedness in secret. 
He often doth suffer it to go on to a pitch of maturity, till it be 
thoroughly formed, till it be ready to break forth in fearful effects ; 
then, in a moment, he crusheth it to nothing. God beholdeth unjust, 
men setting out on their designs; he lets them proceed in full career 
till they reach the object of their wishes ; then, instantly, he checketh, 
he turneth them back, he overthroweth them. Thus was Haman’s 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


177 


plot confounded, when he had procured a royal decree, when he had 
fixed a time, when he had issued forth letters for the destruction of 
the people of God. Almighty God could prevent the beginning of 
wicked designs, or could subvert them in any state of their progress ; 
but he rather winketh, for a time, at their success, and suffereth the 
designers to go on, till they are elevated to the height of confidence, 
and till the good are on the brink of ruin : then, surprisingly, he 
striketh in with effectual succour ; thus declaring how vain is the 
presumption of the ungodly, how needful and how certain is his pro¬ 
tection over his good and faithful servants, how much reason the one 
hath to dread him, and the other to confide in him. 

— 1 

CHAP. LXXXV. 

■fob's Character , Trials and Patience. From the first and 

second Chapters of Job. About A. M. 2484.—B. C. 

1520. 

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was 
Job ; and that man was per fect and upright, and one that 
feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born 
unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance 
also was seven thousands sheep, and three thousand cam¬ 
els, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she 
asses, and a very great household ; so that this man was 
the greatest of all the men of the east. 

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also 
among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence 
comest thou ? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said. 
From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up 
and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast 
thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like 
him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that 
feareth God, and escheweth evil ? 

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job 
fear God for nought ? Hast not thou made an hedge about 
him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on 
every side ? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and 
his substance is increased in the land. But put forth 
thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will 
curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, 
Behold, all that "he hath is in thy power ;~only upon him¬ 
self put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from 
the presence of the Lord. 

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters 
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s 


178 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


house : And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, 
The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside 
them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them 
away ; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of 
the sword ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and 
said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath 
burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed 
them ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While 
he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, 
The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the 
camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the 
servants with the edge of the sword : and L only am 
escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, 
there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy 
daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest 
brother’s house : And behold, there came a great wind 
from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the 
house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead ; 
and 1 only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his 
head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 
And said, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away : 
blessed be the name of the Lord. 

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to 
present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also 
among them to present himself before the Lord. And 
the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my ser¬ 
vant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a per¬ 
fect and upright man, one thatfeareth God, and escheweth 
evil ? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although 
thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without 
cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for 
skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his 
flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said 
unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand ; but save his life. 

So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, 
and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot 
unto his crown. 

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain 
thine integrity ? curse God, and die. But he said unto 
her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. 
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and 
shall we not receive evil ? In all this did not Job sin with 
his lips. 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


179 


QUESTIONS. 

Where did Job live ?--What was his character ?-What trials 

had he ?-What did he say when told of the death of his sons and 

daughters ?-What did his wife say to him when he was smitten 

with boils ?-What was his reply ? 


Practical Observations. 

Job remembered the several prosperous years which had passed 
over his head, and he knew by whose providence they had been 
prosperous. Surely there was a debt of gratitude owing on this ac¬ 
count, which it became him, as far as possible, to answer. This he 
considered thoroughly ; and therefore, instead of any impatient mur¬ 
muring at his present sufferings, he resigned himself up entirely to 
God, and blessed the hand under which it suffered. If the example of 
this great man, who is so highly celebrated in Holy Writ, be of any 
moment, it may be applied, in some measure, to every other person 
who labours under affliction. For though it may not be frequent to 
be so highly favored by Providence, as this great man had been in 
his more early years ; yet, who is there that hath enjoyed nothing, 
and received no advantages from the influence of H eaven P 

-***##• 

CHAP. LXXXVI. 

God’s universal and wise Providence. From the fifth 

Chapter of Job. 

Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, 
neither doth trouble spring out of the ground : yet man is 
born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. [ would seek 
unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause ; 
which doeth great things and unsearchable ; marvellous 
things without number : who giveth rain upon the-earth, 
and sendeth waters upon the fields To set up on high 
those that be low ; that those which mourn may be exalt¬ 
ed to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, 
so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He 
taketh the wise in their own craftiness : and the counsel 
of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with 
darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noonday as in 
the night. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from 
their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. So the 
poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : there¬ 
fore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty : 
for he maketh sore and bindeth up : he woundeth, and 
his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six 
troubles : yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 
In famine he shall redeem thee from death: arid in war 







180 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


from the power of the sword. Thou shalt he hid from the 
scourge of the tongue : neither shalt thou be afraid of de¬ 
struction when it cometh. At destruction and famine 
thou shalt laugh : neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts 
of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones 
of the field : and the beasts of the field shall be at peace 
with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle 
shall be in peace ; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, 
and shalt not sin. Thou shalt know also that thy seed 
shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the 
earth. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a lull age, like 
as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season. Lo this, we 
have searched it, so it is $ hear it, and know thou it for 
thy good. 


Practical Observations. 

We should consider our afflictions as so many kind warnings to ex¬ 
amine ourselves, confess our sins, seek mercy from God, and walk 
more diligently in his ways : we should humble ourselves before him, 
and neither despise his rod, nor seek help or relief from any other 
quarter. He alone can effectually remove temporal afflictions, and 
give peace to the wounded conscience, or relief to the troubled spir¬ 
it. And when we have found pardon of sin, peace with God, and 
deliverance from the power of sin, we may without reserve venture 
our all in his hands. He will provide for our real wants, and protect 
us in the way of duty, so that no evil can hurt us, and deliver us from 
all the troubles with which he may please to prove us. W'e may go 
out and come in, lie down and rise up, without distrustful fear, as¬ 
sured of the special care of Heaven, till the Lord see good to call us 
home. We are not authorized to expect great wealth, long life, 
flourishing families, or exemption from tribulations: but we are as¬ 
sured that all will be ordered in the best manner possible, and that we 
shall not be summoned by death till we are ripe for glory, and have 
lived as long as it is good for us in this world. This has been the 
confidence, observation, and experience of godly men, in all ages ; 
may we hear it and know it for our good. 

**>*#®#**— 

CHAP. LXXXVII. 

God's Almighty Power and Justice. From the ninth and 
eleventh Chapters of the Book of Job. 

Job said, how should man be just with God ? If 
he will contend with him, he cannot answer him 
one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty 
in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and 
hath prospered ? Which removeth the mountains, and they 
know not: which overturneth them in his anger. Which 
shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars there- 



THE filBLICAL READER. 


131 


of tremble. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth 
not ; and sealeth up the stars. Which alone sprcadeth 
out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the 
chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past 
finding out; yea, and wonders without number. 

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on 
also, but 1 perceive him not. Behold, he taketh away, 
who can hinder him ? who will say unto him, What doest 
thou ? If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong : and if of 
judgment, who shall set me a time to plead ? If I justify 
myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me : if I say, I 
am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I 
were perfect, yet would I not know my soul : I would 
despise my life. 

Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, 
they see no good. They are passed away as the swift 
ships : as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. If I say, I 
will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, 
and comfort myself—I am afraid of all my sorrows, I 
know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. 

Then answered Zophar and said, Canst thou by search¬ 
ing find out God ? canst thou find out the Almighty unto 
perfection ? It is as high as heaven ; what canst thou do P 
deeper than hell; what canst thou know ? The measure 
thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 
It he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who 
can hinder him ? For he knoweth vain men: he seetli 
wickedness also; will he not then consider it ? If thou 
prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards 
him; if iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and 
let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then 
shalt thou lift up thy face without spot: yea, thou shalt 
be steadfast, and shalt not fear : Because thou shalt for¬ 
get thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away : 
And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday : thou 
shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou 
shalt be secure, because there is hope ; yea, thou shalt 
dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. 
Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid ; 
yea, many shall make suit unto thee. But the eyes of 
the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their 
hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. 

Q 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


183 


Practical Observations. 

Job here teaches us, that man cannot be justified before God : that 
if the Lord should enter into judgment with him, he could not “ an¬ 
swer him one of a thousand,” and that sinful men, however treated, 
have no right to complain, but must all be condemned in God’s pre¬ 
sence, and implore his mercy. What Job here cays shows, that 
though he insisted he was not a wicked man, he did not pretend to 
be just before God. We ought all to entertain the same thoughts : 
continually and seriously to reflect upon these truths; and thereby 
animate ourselves to the fear of God, submitting to his will, and put¬ 
ting our trust in him. 

CHAP. LXXXVIir. 

Life, Death, and the Resurrection. From the fourteenth 
and nineteenth Chapters of Job. 

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full 
of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut 
\ down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his 
months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds 
that he cannot pass ; turn from him, that he may rest, 
till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. For 
there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout 
again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock 
thereof die in the ground ; yet, through the scent of water 
it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. Butman 
dieth, and wasteth away : yea, man giveth up the ghost, 
and where is he ? As the waters fail from the sea, and the 
flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lietli down, and 
riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not 
awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 

If a man die, shall he live again P all the days of my 
appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou 
shalt call, and I will answer thee : thou wilt have a desire 
to the work of thine hands. For now thou numberest my 
steps: dost thou not watch over my sin ? My transgres¬ 
sion is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniq¬ 
uity. And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, 
and the rock is removed out of his place. The waters 
wear the stones : thou washest away the things which 
grow out of the dust of the earth ; and thou destroyeth 
the hope of man. Thou prevailest for ever against him, 
and he passeth : thou changest his countenance and send- 
est him away. His sons come to honour, and he know- 
pth it not: and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


183 


Hot of them. But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and 
his soul within him shall mourn. 

How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces* 
wi th words P It indeed ye will magnify yourselves against 
me, and plead against me my reproach ; know now that 
God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with 
his net. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, 
and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped 
me ol my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye, my 
friends $ .for (lie hand of God hath touched me. Why 
do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with 
my flesh ? O that my words were now written ! O that 
they were printed in a book ! that they were graven with 
an iron pen and lead, in the rock forever ! for I know that 
my Redeemer liveth, and that lie shall stand at the latter 
day upon the earth : and though after my skin worms de¬ 
stroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : Whom 1 
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not 
another $ though my reins be consumed within me. 


Practical Observations. 

Job, in tins chapter, presents us with a lively representation of 
the frailty of human life, of the miseries to which man is subject in 
this world, and of the condition to which he is reduced by death 
Whilst our experience teaches us that the representation is correct, 
we ought to praise God that we have in the Gospel, and in the sure and 
certain hope of the resurrection, strong consolation, and an unfailing 
remedy against the vanity of this life, and against death itself. Mean¬ 
while our great care should be, to improve the time and other talents 
with which God hath intrusted us; that so we may be enabled, by 
his mercy in Christ Jesus, to support our present sufferings with pa¬ 
tience, and be secured in the possession of unmingled aud never- 
fading happiness in the life to come. 




CHAP. LXXXIX. 


The State and Portion of the Wicked . From the twenti¬ 
eth , and twentxj-first Chapters of Job. 

Then answered Zophar, Knowest thou not this of old, 
since man was placed upon earth, that the triumphing of 
the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a 
moment P though his excellency mount up to the heavens, 
and his head reach unto the clouds ; yet he shall perish 
for ever, they which have seen him shall sav, Where is 
he ? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not he 
found, yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 



3 84 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


The eye also which saw him shall see him no more ; 
neither shall his place any more behold him. His chil¬ 
dren shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall 
restore their goods. His bones are full of the sin of his 
youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. 
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide 
it under his tongue : though he spare it, and forsake it not, 
but keep it still within his mouth ; yet his meat is turn¬ 
ed, it is the gall of asps within him. He hath swallowed 
down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. He shall 
suck the poison of asps : the viper’s tongue shall slay him. 
He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of hon¬ 
ey and butter. That which he laboured for shall he re¬ 
store, and shall not swallow it down : according to his sub¬ 
stance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice 
therein. 

Because lie hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor ; 
because he hath violently taken away an house which he 
builded not y surely he shall not feel quietness, he shall 
not save of that which he desired. There shall none of 
his meat he left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. 
Tn the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every 
hand of the wicked shall come upon him. God shall cast 
the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall reign it upon him, 
while lie is eating. He shall flee from the iron weapon, and 
the bow of steel shall strike him through. It is drawn, and 
cometh out of the body ; yea, the glittering sword cometh 
out of his gall : terrors are upon him. All darkness shall 
be hid in his secret places : a fire not blown shall con¬ 
sume him ; it shall go ill with him that is left in his taber¬ 
nacle. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth 
shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall 
depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his 
wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, 
and the heritage appointed unto him by God. 

Then answered Job and said, Wherefore do the wick¬ 
ed live, become old, yea, are mighty in power ? Their 
seed is established in their sight with them, and their 
offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe 
from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. They 
send forth their little ones like a flock, and their 
children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and 
rejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their 
days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the 
grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us ; 
for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


185 


the Almighty, that we should serve him ? and what profit 
should we have, if we pray unto him ? Lo, their good is 
not in their hand : the counsel of the wicked is far from 
me. 

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out ? and how 
oft cometh their destruction upon them ? God distributed) 
sorrows in his anger. One dieth in his full strength, 
being wholly at ease and quiet. His breasts are full of 
milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. And an¬ 
other dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth 
with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and 
the worms shall cover them. 

Have ye not asked them that go by the way ? and do ye 
not know their tokens, That the wicked is reserved to 
the day of destruction ? they shall be brought forth to 
the day of wrath. Who shall declare his way to face P and 
who shall repay him what he hath done ? Yet shall he be 
brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 


Practical Observations. 

Though the wicked often prosper even to the end of life : yet it 
is a decided matter amongst all wise men from the beginning hith¬ 
erto, that “ the triumphing of the wicked,” and “ the joy of the hyp¬ 
ocrite,” are transient and fleeting ; and that they shall shortly perish 
disgracefully and for ever. In general, iniquity ruins men’s consti¬ 
tutions; and if they are not eut oft’before, it entails pain and disease 
on their old age, which carries them down to the grave; the pleas¬ 
ures and gains of sin, like drinking sweet poison, or like the lulling 
venom of the asp, terminate in remorse, in anguish, and in ruin. A 
curse from God often corrodes the oppressor’s abundance ; he hath 
no enjoyment of it, and suffers none of those connected with him to 
have any ease or pleasure; and very often it is torn from him in an 
awful and sndden manner. “ There is no peace, saith my God, for 
the wicked.” 

—»*•©#««*- 
CHAP. XC. 

Wisdom , the Gift of God. From the twenty eighth Chapter 

of the Book of Job. 

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for 
gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, 
and brass is molten out of the stone. He setteth an end 
to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection : the stones 
of darkness, and the shadow of death. The flood break- 
eth out from the inhabitant ; even the waters forgotten 
of the foot 5 they are dried up, they are gone away from 
men. 

Q 2 



18G 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


As for the earth, out of it cometh bread : and under it 
is turned up as it is were fire. The stones of it are the 
place of sapphires : and it hath dust of gold. There is 
a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s 
eye hath not seen : The lion’s whelps have not trodden 
it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. He putteth forth his 
hand upon the rock : he overturneth the mountains by the 
roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks ; and his 
eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods 
from overflowing$ and the thing that is hid bringeth he 
forth to light. 

But where shall wisdom be found ? and where is the 
place of understanding ? Man knoweth not the price 
thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. 
The depth saith, It is not in me : and the sea saith, It is 
not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall sil¬ 
ver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued 
with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sap¬ 
phire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it : and the 
exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No men¬ 
tion shall be made of coral, or of pearls : for the price of 
wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not 
equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 
Whence then cometh wisdom ? and where is tne place of 
understanding ? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all liv¬ 
ing, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruc¬ 
tion and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with 
our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he 
knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of 
the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven ; to make 
the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters 
by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and 
a way for the lightning of the thunder : Then did he see 
it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it 
out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, 
that is wisdom 5 and to depart from evil is understanding. 


Practical Observations. 

The chapter begins with a fine description of the indefatigable in¬ 
dustry and ardour of mankind in searching after other things, which 
contribute either to the uses or the ornaments of life—how they dig 
into the bowels of the earth for metals, gold, silver, iron, and brass. 
And though the great Creator hath placed a boundary betwixt light 
and darkness, yet the industry or avarice of man is without bounds. 
He searcheth into the land of darkness itself for hid treasures. 
But Wouldst thou be truly wise ? be wise for thyself, wise for thy 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


18 7 


soul, wise for eternity. Resolve upon a religious course of life. 11 Fear 
God and depart from evil.” Look beyond things present and sensi¬ 
ble unto things which are not seen and are eternal; labour to secure 
the great interests of another world, and refer all the actions of 
this short and dying life to that state which will shortly begin, but 
will never have an end: and this will approve itself to be wisdom at 
the last, whatever the world judge of it now. For not that which is 
approved of men now, but what shall finally be approved by God, is 
true wisdom ; that which is esteemed so by him who is the fountain 
and original of all wisdom the first rule and measure, the best and 
most competent judge of it. 




CHAP. XCI. 


Job’s former Prosperity. From the twenty ninth Chap- 

ter of the Book of Job. 

O that I were as in months past, as in the days when 
God preserved me ; when his candle shined upon my 
head, and when by his light I walked through darkness : 
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of 
God was upon my tabernacle ; when the Almighty was 
yet with me, when my children were about me \ when 
I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me 
out rivers of oil ; when I went out to the gate through 
the city, when I prepared my seat in the street ! The 
young men saw me, and hid themselves : and the aged 
arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and 
laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their 
peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; and when 
the eye saw me, it gave witness to me : Because I deliver¬ 
ed the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that 
had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready 
to perish came upon me ; and I caused the widow’s heart 
to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed 
me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was 
eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a 
father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I 
searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and 
plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply 
my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the 
waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My 
glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my 
hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept 
silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not 
again $ and my speech dropped upon them. And they 


188 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their 
mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them r 
they believed it not; and the light of iny countenance 
they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, 
and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth 
the mourners. 


Practical Observations. 

Whilst Job was in prosperity, lie was respected by all; but as- 
soon as he fell into adversity, every one forsook him. Thus it hap¬ 
pens every day: men make their court to those who have riches, and 
honours, and credit in the world ; but abandon them as soon as they 
are deprived of these advantages. The opinions of men are extreme¬ 
ly vain and unreasonable : we ought not, therefore, to make any great 
account of them, nor build our happiness upon them. 

When amidst the greatest prosperity and honour, let us expect 
changes, and especially think of death. Men are ready to be confi¬ 
dent of the continuance of their wealth and enjoyments ; perhaps Job 
was so. Let us learn from the sad change in his circumstances, and 
many such changes within our own knowledge, not to be high 
minded, but fear. He thought of death ; his prosperity did not make 
him forget that. Let us daily think of it, and prepare for it, and then 
whether we have praise of men or not, we shall certainly have praise 
of God, and be applauded before the assembled world at the last day. 

44 ++ 

CHAP. XCII. 

Job recounteth his Acts of Obedience. From the thir¬ 
ty-first Chapter of Job. 

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted 
to deceit, let me be weighed in an even balance, that 
God may know mine integrity. If my step hath turned 
out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, 
and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands ; then let me 
sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted 
out. If I did despise the cause of my man-servant or of 
my maid-servant, when they contended with me ; what 
then shall [ do when God riseth up ? and when he visiteth, 
what shall I answer him P Did not he that made me 
make him P and did not one fashion us ? If 1 have with¬ 
held the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes 
of the widow to fail ; or have eaten my morsel myself 
alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; if I have 
seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without 
covering $ if his loins have not blessed me, and if he 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


189 


were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep ; if I have 
lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my 
help in the gate ; then let mine arm fall from my shoulder 
blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. For de¬ 
struction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of 
his highness I could not endure. If I have made gold 
my hope, or have said to the fine gold, thou art my confi¬ 
dence ; if I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and 
because mine hand had gotten much ; if I beheld the 
sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness ; 
and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth 
hath kissed my hand : this also were an iniquity to be 
punished by the judge : for I should have denied the God 
that is above. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him 
that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 
neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a 
curse to his soul. If the men of my tabernacle said not, 
Oh that we had of his flesh ! we cannot be satisfied. 
The stranger did not lodge in the street : but I opened 
my doors to the traveller. If I covered my transgressions 
as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom ; did I fear 
a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify 
me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door ? 
Oh that one would hear me ! behold, my desire is that 
the Almighty would answ er me, and that mine adversary 
had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my 
shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. I would 
declare unto him the number of my steps ; as a prince, 
would I go near unto him. If my land cry against me, 
or that the furrows likewise thereof complain ; if I have 
eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused 
the owners thereof to lose their life : let thistles grow 
instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. 


Practical Observations. 

Genuine religion teaches us to treat inferiors and domestics with 
humanity, equity and affection ; to bear with their faults, to sympa¬ 
thise in their troubles, to hearken to their complaints, and to seek 
their present and future welfare : remembering that they are our 
brethren, as near to the great Creator, and as capable of eternal sal¬ 
vation as ourselves. It disposes us likewise to kindness as well as 
justice towards the poor—to consult their inclination, to share our 
comforts w T ith them, whether we have abundance, or only moderate 
provision ; and to seek an interest in the grateful prayers of the 
fatherless and the widow, by sparing from our indulgence, to feed t 
cloth, educate, or protect them. 



190 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. XCIII. 

God omnipotent and just, and high above Man. From the 
thirty fourth and thirty-fifth Chapters of Job. 

Furthermore Elihu answered and said, hear my words, 

O ye wise men ; and give ear unto me, ye that have 
knowledge. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth 
tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know 
among ourselves what is good. Far be it from God, that 
he should do wickedness ; and from the Almighty that he 
should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall he 
render unto him, and cause every man to find according 
to his ways. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, 
neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Who hath 
given him a charge over the earth P or who hath disposed 
the whole world ? If he set his heart upon man, if he 
gather unto himself his spirit and his breath $ all flesh 
shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 

If now thou hast understanding hear this : hearken to 
the voice of my words. Shall even he that hateth right 
govern ? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just ? 
Is it fit to say to a king, thou art wicked P and to princes, 
ye are ungodly ? How much less to him that accepteth 
not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more 
than the poor P for they all are the work of his hands. 
In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be 
troubled at midnight, and pass away; and the mighty 
shall be taken away without hand. For his eyes are upon 
the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is 
no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of 
iniquity may hide themselves. For he will not lay upon 
man more than right ; that he should enter into judg¬ 
ment with God. 

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, 
and set others in their stead. Therefore he knoweth 
their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so 
that they are destroyed. Because they turned back from 
him, and would not consider any of his ways : so that they 
cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he hear- 
eth the cry of the afflicted. When he giveth quietness, 
who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face, 
who then can behold him ? whether it be done against a 
nation, or against a man only : that the hypocrite reign 
not, lest the people be ensnared. 

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


191 


chastisement, 1 will not offend any more : That which I 
see not, teach thou me : if I have done iniquity, I will do 
no more. Should it be according to thy mind P he will 
recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou 
choose ; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. 

Look unto the heavens, and see ; and behold the clouds 
which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest 
thou against him ? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, 
what doest thou unto him ? If thou be righteous, what 
givest thou him ? or what receiveth he of thine hand ? Thy 
wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righte¬ 
ousness may profit the son of man. Surely God will not 
hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Although 
thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before 
him ; therefore trust thou in him. 


Practical Observations. 

As a reason why wc should never complain of the proceedings of 
the Almighty when he corrects us, nor pretend to be righteous before 
him, Elihu insisted) upon the wisdom and justice of the Almighty, 
and the nothingness of man before him. lie teaches that men, who 
are as nothing before him, ought not to call him 1o an account for 
any of his dealings ; that he examines and knows the behaviour of 
every man ; that as he is judge of the world, he will render to men ac¬ 
cording to their works ; and that whether he punishes, or does us 
good, none can hinder him. 

We are also here taught a doctrine of very great importance ; 
which is, that our righteousness may profit other men, as our sins 
may do them harm ; but that God receives no advantage from the 
good we do, nor any injury from the sins we commit. It follows from 
hence, that God, in all his dealings with us, and particularly when 
he afflicts us, has our g iod alone in view. If he punishes us, he does 
it not only with justice, but with goodness too ; and therefore, in¬ 
stead of charging God foolishly, as if he treated us with too great 
severity, we ought readily to acquiesce in all the dispensations of his 
wise and good providence. 

-***##§««•" 

CHAP. XCIV. 

Elihu showeth God’s Power and Glory. From the thirty- 
sixth and thirty-seventh Chapters of Job. 

Suffer me a little, and I will show thee that I have 
yet to speak on God’s behalf. I will fetch my knowl¬ 
edge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Ma¬ 
ker. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he 
is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not 
the life of the wicked : but givetn right to the poor. 



192 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous : but 
■with kings are they on the throne ; yea, he doth establish 
them for ever, and they aie exalted. And if they be 
bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction, 
then he eheweth them their work, and their transgres¬ 
sions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear 
to discipline, and commandeth that they return from in¬ 
iquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend 
their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and 
they shall die without knowledge. 

He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth 
their ears in oppression. Will he esteem thy riches ? no, 
not gold, nor all the forces of strength. Take heed, re¬ 
gard not iniquity ; for this hast thou chosen rather than 
affliction. Behold, God exalteth by his power : who 
teacheth like him ? who hath enjoined him his way ? or 
who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity P remember 
that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every 
man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither 
can the number of his years be searched out. For he 
maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain 
according to the vapour thereof: which the clouds do 
drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any 
understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of 
his tabernacle ? Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, 
and covereth the bottom of the sea. For by them iudffeth 
he the people ; he giveth meat in abundance. With 
clouds he covereth the light ; and commandeth it not to 
shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. The noise 
thereof showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning 
the vapour. 

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound 
that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the 
whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the 
earth. After it a voice roareth : he thundereth with the 
voice of his excellency: and he will not stay them when 
his voice is heard. For.he saith to the snow, Be thou on 
the earth ; likewise to the small rain, and to the great 
rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every 
man ; that all men may know lvis work. Then the beasts 
go into dens, and remain in their places. Out of the 
south cometh the whirlwind : and cold out of the north. 

By the breath of God fiost is given : and the breadth of 
the waters is straitened. Also by watering he wearieth 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


m 


the thick cloud : lie scattereth his bright cloud : and it is 
turned round about by his counsels : that they may do 
whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the 
world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for 
correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto 
this, O Job : stand still, and consider the wondrous 
works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed 
them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine ? Dost 
thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous 
works of him which is perfect in knowledge ? How thy 
garments are warm, when lie quieteth the earth by the 
south wind ? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, 
which is strong, arid as a molten looking-glass ? Teach 
us what we shall say unto him : for we cannot order our 
speech by reason of darkness. And now men see not 
the bright light which is in the clouds : but the wind pass- 
eth and cleanseth them. Fair weather cometh out of the 
north : with God is terrible majesty. Touching the 
Almighty, we cannot find him out : he is excellent in 
power and in judgment, and in plenty of justice : he will 
not afflict. Men do therefore fear him : he respecteth 
not any that are wise of heart. 


Practical Observations. 

High and honourable thoughts of God tend to promote submission 
to his will. Let us consider him as a Being of infinite perfections, 
of boundless power and knowledge, supreme authority, unrivalled 
and everlasting dominion. We see his works of nature, and they 
are without fault and defect ; especially his agency in the blessings 
of sunshine and rain ; they are plain to our eyes, though the method 
of the operation of natural causes is mysterious and incomprehen¬ 
sible. Let us not dare to teach him or prescribe to him. The more 
careful we are to contemplate his nature, and to magnify his works 

I which we behold, the more shall we be afraid and ashamed of censur¬ 
ing his providence. 

CHAP. XCV. 

God’s Wonderful Works in Creation and Providence . 
From the thirty-eighth Chapter of Job. 

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, 
and said, Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of 
the earth ? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who 
hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest ? or who 
hath stretched the line upon it ? Whereupon are the 
foundations thereof fastened ? or who laid the corner 
stone thereof, when the morning stars sang together, and 

R 




194 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


all the sons of God shouted forjoy ? Or who shut up the sea 
with doors, when it brake forth, when I made the cloud 
the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swadding-band 
for it, and brake up for it my decreed place, and set 
bars and doors, and said, hitherto shalt thou come, but 
no further ; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed ? 
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days : and 
caused the day-spring to know his place ; tfiat it might 
take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be 
shaken out of it ? Hast thou entered into the springs of 
the sea P or hast thou walked in the search of the depth ? 
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee ; or hast 
thou seen the doors of the shadow of death ? Hast thou 
perceived the breadth of the earth ? declare if thou know- 
est it all. 

Where is the way where light dwelleth ? and as for 
darkness, where is the place thereof, that thou shouldest 
take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know 
the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because 
th6u wast then born ? or because the number of thy days 
is great ? Hast thou entered into the treasures of the 
snow ? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which 
I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the 
day of battle and war ? 

By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the 
east wind upon the earth ? who hath divided a water¬ 
course for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the 
lightning of thunder ; to cause it to rain on the earth, 
where no man is ; on the wilderness, wherein there is no 
man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground ; and to 
cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth P 

Hath the rain a father ? or who hath begotten the 
drops of the dew ? and the hoary frost of heaven, 
who hath gendered it ? The waters are hid as with a 
stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Canst thou 
bind the sweet influences of Plei'ades, or loose the bands 
of Ori'on : Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his sea¬ 
son ? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons ? Know¬ 
est thou the ordinances of heaven ? canst thou set the 
dominion thereof in the earth ? Canst thou lift up thy 
voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover 
thee ? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and 
say unto thee, Here we are ? 

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts ? or who 
hath given understanding to the heart ? Who can number 
the clouds in wisdom ? or who can stay the bottles of 
heaven, when the dust groweth into hardness, and the 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


195 


clods cleave fast together ? Wilt thou hunt the prey for 
the lion ? or fill the appetite of the young lions, when they 
couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait ? 
Who provideth lor the raven his food ? when his young 
ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat. 


Practical Observations. 

The revolutions of da}' and night, and of the seasons of the year, with 
all that profusion oi bounty with which they are crowned, and of which 
his enemies richly partake, should encourage us to expect large bless¬ 
ings from his covenant-love in Jesus Christ, and to be followers of him 
in love to our enemies. The constancy and exactness, with which nat¬ 
ural effects are produced, should remind us of the faithfulness of the 
Lord’s promises, and the immutability of his counsel; and excite us 
to be constant and exact in our course of daily worship and obedi¬ 
ence. The consideration of his all-sufficiency and eternity should 
teach us to choose his favour as our portion and blessedness forever ; 
and every view that we take of his manifested perfections, is suited 
to convince us of his right to our love and obedience, of the evils of 
sinning against him, and of our need of his mercy and salvation. The 
humiliating recollection of our comparative insignificancy should 
check our pride and presumption, and lay us low in reverential fear 
and self-abasement. It would be in vain for us to command the clouds 
to rain, or to attempt to stay these bottles of heaven : but if we call 
upon the Lord in our necessities or fears, he will regulate all these 
things for our good. In fine, the more we contemplate, the more we 
are confounded with the vastness and the variety of these discoveries 
of our God. All his ways are in wisdom ; and every thing will con¬ 
cur to ruin his obstinate enemies: but all things work together for 
good to them that love him. 


/ 

CHAP. XCYI. 

The animal Creation. From the thirty-ninth, fortieth, 
and forty-first Chapters of Job. 

Who hath sent out the wild beast free P or who hath 
loosed his bands ? whose house I have made the wilder¬ 
ness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth 
the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying 
of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, 
and he searcheth after every green thing. Will the uni¬ 
corn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib P Canst 
thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow ? or 
will he harrow the valleys after thee ? Wilt thou trust 
him, because his strength is great ? or wilt thou leave thy 
labour to him ? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring 
home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn ? 

Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks ? or 
wings and feathers unto the ostrich ? which leaveth her 



196 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust, and 
forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild* 
beast may break them. She is hardened against her 
young ones, a 9 though they were not hers : her labour is 
in vain without fear; because God hath deprived her oi 
wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 
What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth 
the horse and his rider. 

Hast thou given the horse strength P hast thou clothed 
his neck with thunder ? canst thou make him afraid as a 
grasshopper ? The glory of his nostrils is terrible. He 
paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength : he 
goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, 
and is not affrighted : neither turneth he back from the 
sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering 
spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with 
fierceness and rage ; neither believeth he that it is the 
sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, 
Ha, ha ; and he smelleth the battle afar oft', the thunder 
of the captains, and the shouting. 

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her 
wings towards the south ? Doth the eagle mount up at- 
thy command, and make her nest on high P she dwell- 
eth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, 
and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, 
and her eyes behold afar off*. Her young ones also suck 
up blood : and where the slain are, there is she. 

Hast thou an arm like God ? or canst thou thunder 
with a voice like him ? Deck thyself now with majesty and 
excellency ; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath : and behold every one 
that is proud, and abase him. Look on every one that 
is proud, and bring him low ; and tread down the wick¬ 
ed in their place. Hide them in the dust together ; and 
bind their faces in secret. Then will I also confess unto 
thee that thine own right hand can save thee. 

Behold now be'hemoth, which I made with thee •, he 
eateth grass as an ox. His bones are as strong pieces 
of brass •, his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief 
of the ways of God : he that made him can make his sword 
to approach unto him. Surely the mountains bring him 
forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. He 
lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed and 
fens. The shady trees cover him with their shadow ; the 
willows of the brook compass him about. Behold, he 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


197 " 


tlrinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he 
can draw up Jordan into his mouth. He taketh it with 
his eyes : his nose pierceth through snares. 

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook ? or his 
tongue with a cord which thou lettest down ? Canst thou 
put an hook into his nose ? or bore his jaw through with 
a thorn ? Will he make many supplications unto thee ? 
will he speak soft words unto thee r will he make a cove¬ 
nant with thee ? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever ? 
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird ? or wilt thou bind 
him for thy maidens ? Shall the companions make a ban¬ 
quet of him ? shall they part him among the merchants ? 
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons ? or his head 
with fish spears ? 

None is so fierce that dare stir him up : who then is 
able to stand before me ? Who hath prevented me that I 
should repay him ? whatsoever is under the whole heaven 
is mine. His scales are his pride, shut up together as 
with a close seal. They are joined one to another, they 
stick together that they cannot be sundered By his 
neezings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eye¬ 
lids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, 
and sparks of fire leap out. In his neck remaineth 
strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. The 
flakes of his flesh are joined together : they are firm in 
themselves : they cannot be moved. His heart is as firm 
as a stone •, yea, as hard as a piece of the nether mill¬ 
stone. 

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid : 
the sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold : he es- 
teemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The 
arrow cannot make him flee : darts are counted as stub¬ 
ble : he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. He maketh 
the deep lo boil like a pot : he maketh a path 
to shine after him ; one would think the deep to be 
hoary. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made 
without fear. He beholdeth all high things ; he is a king 
over all the children of pride. 


Practical Observations. 

The infinite power, wisdom, and goodness of God, are legible in 
all the variety of his creatures : “ He openeth his hand and satisfieth 
the desire of every living thing,” and he watches over them all with 
constant attention. Such as have no help from man, are taken care 
of as well"as those that have : and in like manner his people will 
surely be provided for and protected, either by or without the mstrm 
mentality of their fellow-creatures. Every species of animals remnuki- 

R 2 





198 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


us of our ignorance and impotence : they continue, as God hath create d 
them, and we can neither understand whence their different propensities 
arise,noryet alter them: we often can derive no benefit from them ; nay, 
they seem a nuisance to us, nor can we know for what purpose they 
were created. Yet we should acknowledge the wisdom of God, and. 
submit to his will: we ought to be thankful for the benefit derived 
from some, and to be patient under the inconveniences occasioned by 
others ; and we may learn from them to confide in his kind provi¬ 
dence. 

CHAP. XCVII. I 

The Kingdom of Christ. From the second , forty-fifth , 

and forty-sixth Psalms. 

W hy do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a 
vain thing ? the kings of the earth set themselves, and 
the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and 
against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands 
asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that 
sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have 
them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his 
wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I 
set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, 
Thou art my Son ; this day have I begotten thee. Ask 
of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inherit¬ 
ance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possess¬ 
ion. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron m , thou 
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings : be instructed, ye 
judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and re¬ 
joice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, 
and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kinuled 
but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in 
him. 

My heart is inditing a good matter : I speak of the 
things which I have made touching the King : my tongue 
is the pen of a ready writer. 1 hou art fairer than the 
children of men : grace is poured into thy lips : therefore 
God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy 
thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty* 
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth 
and meekness and righteousness ; and thy right hand 
shall teach thee terrible things. 

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever : the sceptre 
of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righte¬ 
ousness, and hatest wickedness ; therefore God, thy God,. 









THE EIBLICAL READER. 


199 


hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fel¬ 
lows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and 
cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made 
thee glad. 

The king’s daughter is all glorious within : her clothing 
is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king 
in raiment of needlework : the virgins her companions 
that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With glad¬ 
ness and rejoicing shall they be brought : they shall en¬ 
ter into the king’s palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be 
thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the 
earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all 
generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for 
ever and ever. 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth 
be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the 
midst of the sea $ though the waters thereof roar and be 
troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling 
thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall 
make glad the city of God, the holy place of the taberna¬ 
cles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her •, she 
shall not be moved : God shall help her, and that right 
early. _ 

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved : he ut¬ 
tered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is 
with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold 
the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in 
the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the 
earth ; he breaketh the bow', and cutteth the spear in 
sunder ; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and 
know that 1 am God : 1 will be exalted among the heath¬ 
en, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is 
with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 


Practical Observations. 

The three psalms from which this chapter is selected, although 
written on different occasions, and to celebrate some interesting 
events connected with the life of David, have reference to the Messi¬ 
ah, and the unfailing glory of his kingdom. From the language here 
used, and from the declarations of Scripture generally, we are author¬ 
ized, ? to believe, that while the heathen rage and the dominions of 
this world crumble into dust and pass away, the throne of Immanuel 
shall be for ever, and that he will bestow on his friends an everlast¬ 
ing inheritance. 

In the Redeemer, the enlightened soul perceives unutterable good¬ 
ness and beauty, which eclipse all the dim excellencies that it was 



200 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


wont to admire in the children of men. The gracious words which hc‘ 
speaks to sinners, are replete with divine harmony, and excite ineffable 
comfort in the broken heart; and Christ himself rejoices in his exalta¬ 
tion, and the power and glory which the Father hath conferred on 
him ; because he delights in bestowing on his people the blessing 
which he purchased for them on the cross. 

Next to the Redeemer's excellencies, those ofhis espoused Church 
are most worthy to be celebrated : not for what she was in herself; 
but for what he hath made her, in consequence ofhis love and choice. 
If we desire to share these blessings, we must hearken to his word, 
consider his proposals, and incline our ears and our hearts to ask an 
union with him : we must renounce and even forget our carnal and 
sinful attachments, pursuits, and connexions, if we would be pleasing 
in his eyes, or be admitted into this honourable relation. 


CHAP. XCVIII. 

The Security and Happiness of the Righteous. From the 
first, fifteenth, and ninety first Psalm. 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of 
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sit" 
teth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the 
law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day 
and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the 
rivers of water* that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; 
his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doeth 
shall prosper. The ungodly are not so : but are like the 
chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the un¬ 
godly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the 
congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth 
the way of the righteous : but the way of the ungodly 
shall perish. ° 

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle ? who shall 
dwell in thy holy hill ? he that walketh uprightly, and 
worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth "in his 
heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth 
evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his 
neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned • 
but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that 
sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that 
putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward 
against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall 
never be moved. 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most Hio-h 
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say 
of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress : my God • 
in him will I trust. Surely he shalfdeliver thee from the 
snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


201 


He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his 
wings shalt thou trust : his truth shall be thy shield and 
buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid lor the terror by 
night ; nor lor the arrow that flieth by day ; nor for the pes¬ 
tilence that walketh in, darkness ; nor for the destruction 
that wastetii at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy 
side, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall not 
come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold 
and see the reward of the wicked. 

Because thou hast made the Lord which is mv refuge, 
even the Most High, thy habitation ; there shall no evil 
beta] thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwell¬ 
ing. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to 
keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in 
their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young 
lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Be¬ 
cause he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I de¬ 
liver him : I will set him on high, because he hath known 
my name. He shall call upon me, and 1 will answer him : 
I will be with him in trouble ; 1 will deliver him, and 
honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show 
him my salvation. 


Practical Observations. 

The psalm placed first in this chapter, like the sermon on the 
mount, opens with a “ beatitude” for our comfort and encourage¬ 
ment, directing us immediately to that happiness, after which all man¬ 
kind in different ways are seeking. He who hath once brought him¬ 
self to delight in the Scriptures, will find no temptation to exchange 
that pleasure for any that the world or the flesh can offer him. Such an 
one will make the oracles of God his companions by day and by night. 
He will have recourse to them for direction in the bright and cheerful 
hours of prosperity ; to them he will apply for comfort in the dark and 
dreary seasons of adversity. And, by continual meditation in the Sac¬ 
red Writings, he will as naturally improve and advance in holiness, as 
a tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly and well watered soil. 

How much man stands in need of the protection of Heaven, ap¬ 
pears from a survey of the dangers to which he is continually exposed. 
Vuiious are the terrors of the night, manifold the perils of the day ; 
from diseases, whose infection makes its progress unobserved ; from 
assaults, casualties, and accidents, which can neither be foreseen, 
nor guarded against. The soul has likewise her enemies ready to 
attack and surprise her at all hours. Avarice and ambition are abioad 
watching for her in the day; while concupiscence, like a pestilence, 
“ walketh in darkness.” In adversity she is disturbed by terrors ; 
in prosperity, still more endangered by pleasures. But Jesus Christ 
lias overcome the world, to prevent us from being overcome by it. 



202 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. XCIX. 

David’s Thanksgiving for his extraordinary Deliverances 
and singular Prosperity. From, the eighteenth Psalm. 

I will love thee, 0 Lord, my strength. The Lord is 
my rock, and iny fortress, and my deliverer ; my God, 
my strength, in whom I will trust ; my buckler, and the 
horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call 
upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised ; so shall I 
be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death com¬ 
passed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto 
my God : he heard my voice out of his temple, and my 
cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the 
earth shook and trembled ; the foundations also of the 
hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. He 
bowed the heavens also, and came down : and darkness 
was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did 
fly : yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He 
made darkness his secret place ; his pavilion round about 
him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At 
the brightness that was before him his thick clouds pass¬ 
ed, hailstones and coals of fire. The Lord also thun¬ 
dered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice : 
hail stones and coals of fire. 

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them ; and he 
shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the chan¬ 
nels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world 
were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the 
breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he 
drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my 
strong enemy, and from them which hated me : for they were 
too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my ca¬ 
lamity : but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth 
also into a large place •, he delivered me, because he de¬ 
lighted in me. 

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteous¬ 
ness : according to the cleanness of my hands hath 
he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways 
of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from 
my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I 
did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright 
before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. There¬ 
fore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my 
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in 
his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself 




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merciful ; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself 
upright ; with the pure thou wilt show thyself pure ; 
and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. 
For thou wilt save the afflicted people ; but wilt bring 
down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the 
Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. 

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is 
tried : he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who 
is God save the Lord ? or who is a rock save our God ? It is 
God that girdeth me with strength, and inaketh my way 
perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth 
me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, 
so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou 
hast also given me the shield of thy salvation : and thy 
right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made 
me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that 
my feet did not slip. For thou hast girded me with 
strength unto battle : thou hast subdued under me those 
that rose up against me. They cried, but there was none 
to save them : even unto the Lord, but he answered them 
not. 

Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the 
people ; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen : 
a people whom I have not known shall serve me. As 
soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me : the stran¬ 
gers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers 
shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. 
The Lord liveth: and blessed be my rock ; and let the 
God of my salvation be exalted. He delivereth me from 
mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that 
rise up against me : Thou hast delivered me from the 
violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O 
Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy 
name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and 
sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed 
for evermore. 


Practical Observations . 

From the first words of this hymn wc learn, that the divine favours 
and deliverances should inspire us with the most tender and sincere 
affection, and lead us to praise God continually. David’s account of 
the extreme dangers he has been exposed to, and the wonderful pow¬ 
er of God displayed in his deliverance, show, that into whatever ex¬ 
tremities wc fall, we should never despair of God’s assistance, if we 
fear him—that his power is greater than man’s, and that he never 
wants means to deliver those who hope in him. Lastly, David’s 
zeal, expressed in the latter verses of this psalm, proves that it is not 



204 


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sufficient to praise God in private for his mercies, but we ought to 
proclaim his praises and loving kindness to the utmost of our power 
that his holy name may be glorified by us, and by all men. 


CHAP. C. 

Perfection of God’s Works and Word , and his Dominion 
over the Earth. From the nineteenth and twenty fourth 
Psalms. 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firma¬ 
ment showeth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth 
speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There 
is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their 
words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a 
tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming 
out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a 
race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and 
his circuit unto the ends of it : and there is nothing hid 
from the heat thereof. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul : 
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the sim¬ 
ple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the 
heart : the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlighten¬ 
ing the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring 
for ever : the judgments of the Lord are true and righte¬ 
ous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, 
yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and 
the honeycomb. 

Moreover by them is thy servant warned ; and in keep¬ 
ing of them there is great reward. Who can understand 
his errors P cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep 
back thy servant also from presumptuous sins ; let them 
not have dominion over me : then shall I be upright, and 
I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the 
words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be 
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Re¬ 
deemer. * 

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: the 
world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded 
it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who 
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord r and who shall 
stand in his holy place ? He that hath clean hands, and a 
pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 
nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from 
the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 



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■205 

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy 
•face, O Jacob. 

Lift up your heads, O ye gates $ and be ye lift up, ye 
everlasting doors •, and the King of glory shall come in. 
Who is this King of glory ? the Lord strong and mighty 5 
the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye 
gates : even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the 
King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glo¬ 
ry ? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. 


Practical Observations. 

King David here mentions two principal means by which God has 
made himself known unto us ; which are, the works of nature, and 
his word. Let us therefore make a good use of both these means ; 
meditating upon the marvellous works of God which afford us such 
proofs of his power and wisdom ; but particularly let us apply our¬ 
selves to the reading and meditating on his word. David’s high en¬ 
comiums on God’s word inform us, that it is a sure, evident, and un¬ 
erring rule of faith and practice, that it is of infinitely more value 
than the most excellent things of this world ; that it was given to 
enlighten and sanctify us, to rejoice and comfort the heart; that the 
fear of the Lord procures perfect happiness to those who are possess¬ 
ed with it, and that there is great reward in the keeping of his holy 
-commandments. 

CHAP. Cl. 

Conscious Integrity and Confidence in God’s Favour. From 
the 23 d, 26th and 27 th Psalms. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He 
maketh me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth 
me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul : he 
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s 
sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with 
me m , thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou 
preparest a table before me in the presence of 
mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil : my 
cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall 
follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the 
house of the Lord for ever. 

Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity : 
I have trusted also in the Lord ; therefore I shall not 
slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me ; try my 
reins and my heart. For thy loving-kindness is before 
mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not 

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sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissem¬ 
blers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers ; and 
will not sit with the wicked. 1 will wash mine hands in 
innocency : so will I compass thine altar, 0 Lord : that 
I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of 
all thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habita¬ 
tion of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwell- , 
eth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with 
bloody men : in whose hands is mischief, and their right 
hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine 
integrity : redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot 
standeth in an even place : in the congregations will I 
bless the Lord. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall I 
fear ? The Lord is the strength of my life •, of whom 
shall I be afraid ? Though an host should encamp against 
me, my heart shall not fear : though war should rise 
against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I 
desired of the Lord, that w ill I seek after ; that I may 
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to 
behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his tem¬ 
ple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his 
pavilion : in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me ; 
he shall set me upon a rock. Therefore will I offer in his 
tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, yea, 1 will sing 
praises unto the Lord. 

» Hear, 0 Lord, when I cry with my voice : have mercy 
also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek 
ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, 
will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me ; put not 
thy servant away in anger ; thou hast been my help $ leave 
me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When • 
my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will 
take me up. Teach me thy way, 0 Lord, and lead me in 
a plain path. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine 
enemies : for false w itnesses are risen up against me, and 
such as breathe out cruelty. 1 had fainted, unless I had 
believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of 
the living. Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and 
he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

The happy condition of the faithful, who live in full assurance of 
God’s love, and under his protection, is here in a most affecting man¬ 
ner set before us. David show's by his own example that they never 



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207 


want, that God protects, comforts, and supports them in every condi¬ 
tion ; that he is with them even in death, and confers his graces and 
favours upon them in the highest degree, causing them to live in a 
blessed communion with him The first Psalm in this chapter is full 
of consolation to true believers ; and the desire of partaking in the 
precious advantages therein set forth, should make us all zealously to 
apply ourselves to the study of piety. 

Let us delight in publick worship, from the same principle that 
1 David did ; and make it our earnest desire that we may not be depriv¬ 
ed of the privileges and comforts of God’s house. We live under a 
more excellent dispensation ; have a brighter display of the beauty of 
the Lord, see it reflected from the face of Jesus Christ, the image of 
the invisible God, and in the scheme of our redemption by him. In 
gospel ordinances we enjoy his presence, and are instructed in his will. 
This is a great satisfaction to a pious mind, and the want of it is the 
chief lamentation of a good man. May we value and improve this 
privilege while we enjoy it; and cheerfully and steadily obey the 
t will of God, as well as diligently inquire after it. 

CHAP. CII. / 

The Vanity of Life , and Man's Mortality . From the 

thirty-ninth and ninetieth Psalms. 

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with 
my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while 
the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I 
held my peace, even from good ; and my sorrow was 
stirred. My heart was hot within me ; while I was 
musing the lire burned : then spake I with my tongue, 
Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure ot my 
days, what it is 5 that I may know how frail I am. Be¬ 
hold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth ; and 
mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at 
his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man 
walketh in a vain show. Surely they are disquiet¬ 
ed in vain : he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not 
who shall gather them. 

And now, Lord, what wait I for ? my hope is in thee. 
Deliver me from all my transgressions : make me not the 
reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my 
mouth, because thou didst it. Remove thy stroke away 
from me : I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 
When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, 
thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: 
surely every man is vanity. Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, 
and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my 
tears : for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, 




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all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover 
strength, before I go hence, and be no more. 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all genera¬ 
tions. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever 
thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from 
everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest 
man to destruction ; and sayest. Return, ye children ot 
men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yes¬ 
terday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou 
carriest them away as with a flood ; they are as a sleep ; 
in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In 
the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up ; in the even¬ 
ing it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed 
by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou, 
hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the 
light of thy countenance. 

The days of our years are threescore years and ten $ 
and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet 
is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off*, 
and we fly away. So teach us to number our days, that 
we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. O satisfy us 
early with thy mercy $ that we may rejoice and be glad 
all our days. Make us glad according to the days where¬ 
in thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have 
seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants^ 
and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty 
of the Lord our God be upon us : and establish thou the 
work of our hands upon us : yea, the work of our hands 
establish thou it. 


Practical Observations. 

We need not inquire the precise time vve have to live ; it will an¬ 
swer every good purpose attentively to consider the shortness and un¬ 
certainty of life. Our days are but an hand-breadth, or as nothing 
before God, and in comparison of his eternity : and in our greatest 
prosperity,, and. in the vigour of youth and health, verily every man. 
is altogether vanity. He cannot livelong ; he may die soon and sud¬ 
denly. His acquisitions are a shadow : he is disquieted in vain : and 
if he succeed in heaping up riches, he must shortly leave them, not 
knowing who shall gather them. How absurd then are the per¬ 
plexing anxieties and the incessant fatigues of the most successful 
worldling, who pursues such shadows to the marring of his present 
comforts, and the ruin ofliis immortal soul! 

The impetuous current of time hurries mortals, as in a sleep, inta 
eternity, where most of them first awake, and lift up their eyes ; and 
all the external splendour and gaiety which excite the envv, the de> 



THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


^uy 


sires, or the admiration of the thoughtless beholder, are destroyed 
and withered as in a moment. So that the supposed pleasure of a 
worldly life passes as a “ tale that is told,” and generally, taken all 
together, it proves a doleful tale. Few in comparison reach the sev¬ 
enty years assigned as the date of man’s present life, and if a small 
number linger out a shorter space, their lives are but a continuation of 
labour and sorrow, and soon they are cut off and fly away. 




CHAP. CIII. 

Faith and Patience . From the thirty-seventh Psalm . 

Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou 
envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall 
soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green 
herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good ; so shalt 
thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be 
fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall 
give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way 
unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it 
to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as 
the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day. 

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not 
thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, bet- 
cause of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath : fret not thyself in 
any wise to do evil. For evil doers shall be cut off: but 
those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be ; yea, 
thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not 
be. But the meek shall inherit the earth : and shall de¬ 
light themselves in the abundance of peace. 

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the 
riches of many wicked. For the arms of (he wicked 
shall be broken : but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. 
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright : and their in¬ 
heritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed 
in the evil time : and in the days of famine they shall be 
satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies 
of the Lord shall consume away. 

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again : but the 
righteous showeth mercy, and giveth. For such as be 

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blessed, of him shall inherit the earth : and they that be 
cursed of him shall be cutoff. The steps of a good man 
are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way. 
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down : for the 
Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, 
and now am old ; yet have I not seen the righteous for¬ 
saken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, 
and lendeth, and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, 
and do good ; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord 
loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints 5 they are 
preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be 
cut off. 

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading 
himself like a green bay tree : yet he passed away, and, 
lo, he was not : yea, I sought him, but he could not be 
found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: 
for the end of that man is peace. But the trangressors 
shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall 
be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the 
Lord ; he is their strength in the time of trouble. And 
the Lord shall help them, and deliver them : he shall 
deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because 
they trust in him. 


Practical Olservations. 

Even in this world it is evident that the afflicted righteous man is 
far happier than the most prosperous of the wicked. Let sinners 
then be counselled to depart from evil, and to do good ; to repent and 
forsake sin, to trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ: and 
take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for 
evermore in heaven. Let us all watch against impatience, envy, and 
despondency, and look more to the wretched end, than to the present 
state of wicked men ; committing all we are, and have, and do, to the 
Lord’s disposal, and he will order that which is best for us. Let us 
cease from wrath and contention, which are sure inlets to evil doing: 
and wait for, and on the Lord, and keep his way without wearying 
or turning aside : let us endeavour to give energy to edifying conversa¬ 
tion. by holy living: let us mark the closing scenes of different char¬ 
acters, and thus keeping our eyes fixed on eternal things, and our de¬ 
pendence on God's mercy, we may pass safely and comfortably 
through this dangerous and miserable life; meet death with compo¬ 
sure, and have an entrance ministered to us abundantly into the 
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 



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211 


CHAP. CIV. 

Zeal for the Publick Worship of God. From the forty - 
second , forty-third, and one hundred and twenty-second 
Psalms. The two first of these Psalms are supposed to 
have been composed by David , when he was driven by 
Absalom from Jerusalem. A. M. 2981—B. C. 1023. 
The last was ivritten about twenty years earlier for the 
use of the Israelites . when they went up to Jerusalem to 
celebrate their sacred Feasts. 

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth 
my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God* 
for the living God : when shall I come and appear before 
God ? My tears have been my meat day and night, while 
they continually say unto me. Where is thy God P When 
I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me : for I 
had gone with the multitude ; I went with them to the 
house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a 
multitude that kept holy-day. 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water-spouts: 
all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet 
the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day¬ 
time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my 
prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my 
rock, Why hast thou forgotten me ? Why go I mourning 
because of the oppression of the enemy P Why art thou 
cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted 
within me ? hope thou in God—for I shall yet praise him, 
who is the health of my countenance, and my God. 

O send out thy light and thy truth : let them lead me ; 
let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy taberna¬ 
cles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God 
mv exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, 
O God, my God. 

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the 
house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy 
gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that 
is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes 
of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks 
unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of 
judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for 
the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy pal¬ 
aces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will 
now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house o£ 
the Lord our God I will seek thy good. 


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212 


Practical Observations. 

If it be great and honourable to be near the person and round the 
throne of an earthly king, how truly glorious are they whom the 
King of heaven delighteth to honour !—The mind never makes no¬ 
bler exertions, is never so conscious of its native grandeur and an¬ 
cient dignity, as when holding high converse with its Creator. The 
heart never feels such unspeakable peace, as when it is fixed upon 
him who made it, as when its affections go out on the supreme 
beauty, as when it rests upon the Rock of ages, and is held within the 
circle of the everlasting arms.—It is some consolation, it is some re¬ 
lief, to open our hearts to men, and tell our sorrows to a friend who 
can give us no relief, but by mingling his tears with ours. What conso¬ 
lation, what relief will it then give to open our hearts and tell our sor¬ 
rows to that Friend above, who is ever gracious to hear, and mighty 
to save! to that Friend who never fails ; who is afflicted in all our 
afflictions, and who keeps us as the apple of his eye ! Art thou, there¬ 
fore, oppressed with the calamities of life ? Is thy head bowed down 
with affliction, or thy heart broken with sorrow ? approach to the 
altar, go to God, present to him the prayer of thy heart, and he will 
send thee help from his holy hill. By approaching to God, we be¬ 
come like God. By devotion on earth, we anticipate the work of 
heaven. We join ourselves before-hand, to the society of angels and 
blessed spirits above ; we already enter on the delightful employment 
of eternity, and begin the song which is heard forever round the 
throne of God. 


CHAP. CV. 

The People exhorted to rejoice in God , and the Ornaments 
and Privileges of the Church. From the forty-seventh 
and forty-eighth Psalms. The Occasion of the former 
was the Removal of the rfrk to mount Zion , and the 
latter of some great Deliverance experienced by David. 
A. M. 2962.—B. C. 1042. 


O clap your hands, all ye people, shout unto God with 
the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terri¬ 
ble ; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall sub¬ 
due the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of 
Jacob whom he loved. God is gone up with a shout, the 
Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, 
sing praises : sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 
For God is the King of all the earth : sing ye praises 
with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen : 
God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes 
of Ihe people are gathered together, even the people of 
the God of Abraham : for the shields of the earth belong 
unto God : he is greatly exalted. 

A M 2112 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be 
V p'nqo"’ praised in the city of our God, in the 
mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for 
situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


213 


the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is 
known in her palaces for a refuge. For lo, the kings 
were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, 
and so they marvelled ; they were troubled, and hasted 
away. 

Thou breakest the slops of Tarshish with an east 
wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the 
city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God : 
God will establish it forever. We have thought of 
thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple* 
According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the 
ends of the earth : thy right hand is full of righteousness. 
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be 
glad, because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and 
go round about her : tell the towers thereof. Mark ye 
well her bulwarks, consider her palaces ; that ye may 
tell it to the generation following. For this God is our 
God for ever and ever : he will be our guide even unto 
death. 


Practical Observations. 

As angels and glorified saints worshipped the ascending Saviour, 
and welcomed him with shouts of joy, and the trump of God ; surely 
we on earth should join our praises with holy affections, and with un¬ 
derstanding of his excellency and our obligations, that we may glorify 
him, and edify others also. Our backwardness to this reasonable ser¬ 
vice must be overcome by repeated exhortations ; and when our 
hearts are attuned to this holy worship, we should call on all around 
to unite in it; for he is our King, and the King of all the earth. He 
reigneth upon the throne of his holiness, which yet well consists with, 
his plenteous mercy : all the heathen are his inheritance and proper¬ 
ty ; may he hasten the time, when all kings shall serve him, and use 
their delegated authority to his glory ! then will all the families of the 
earth be blessed in him, and he will be greatly exalted: whilst as the 
God of Abraham, he becomes their “ shield,” and exceeding “ great 
reward.” 

CHAP. CVI. 

Deep Contrition. From the fifty-first Psalm » which is 
supposed to have been written by David , after his sin 
ivith Uriah. A. M. 2970—B. C. 1034. 

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving¬ 
kindness : according unto the multitude of thy tender 
mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thorough*- 
ly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For 
I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever 
before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and 
done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified 
when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 



214 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts : and 
in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, 
and 1 shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy 
and gladness $ that the bones which thou hast broken may 
rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out 
all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O 
God ; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not 
away from thy presence ; and take not thy holy spirit 
from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and 
uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach trans¬ 
gressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto 
thee. 

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of 
my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy 
righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips : and my 
mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not 
sacrifice; else would I give it : thou delightest not in 
burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spir¬ 
it : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not 
despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build 
thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased 
with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering, 
and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks 
upon thine altar. 


Practical Observations. 

Contrition, when it is complete, consists in a deep unfeigned sense 
of our sins, mingled with all that fear, grief, and hatred, which they 
justly deserve, and attended moreover with a thorough change in the 
will, and a firm purpose of amendment of life ; and that purpose, as 
long as life shall last, effectually put in execution. No doubt the 
Psalmist, who was an inspired prophet, and was taught by the spirit 
in many of his predictions, to point so directly at the Messiah, had 
for his own particular comfort, a cheering glimpse of the gospel 
light, and some blessed anticipations of the cleansing and the 
saving nature of the precious blood of the Lamb, that Lamb of God 
which was slain to take away the sins of the world, before the foun¬ 
dations of it were laid ; so that it was by the power of faith properly 
evangelical, that he arrived at this fulness of hope, and was embold- 
end to say, “ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ) a broken and 
a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” 

CHAP. CVII. 

Delight in the Worship of God. From the eighty-fourth, 
ninety-fifth , ninety-sixth , and one hundred and thirty- 
second Psalm. 

How amiable are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts ! 
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


215 


Lord ; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living 
God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the 
swallow a nest tor herself, where she may lay her young, 
even thine altars, 0 Lord of hosts, my king and my God. 
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : they will be 
stiil praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is 
in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. They 
go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion 
appeareth before God. 

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer : give ear, 0 God 
of Jacob. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the 
tace of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better 
than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the 
house ot my God, than to dwell in the tents of wicked¬ 
ness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord will 
give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold 
from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, bless¬ 
ed is the man that trusteth in thee. 

The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: he 
shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be plant¬ 
ed in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of 
our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age $ 
they shall be fat and flourishing ; to show that the Lord 
is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness 
in him. 

O come, let us sing unto the Lord : let us make a joyful 
noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before 
his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise 
unto him with psaims. For the Lord is a great God, and 
a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep 
places of the earth : the strength of the hills is his also. 
The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the 
dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let 
us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our Godj 
and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his 
hand. 

Honour and majesty are before him: strength and 
beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the Lord, 0 ye 
kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and 
strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his 
name : bring an offering, and come into his courts. O 
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before 
him, all the earth. 

We will go into his tabernacles : we will worship at his 
footstool. Arise, 0 Lord, into thy rest ; thou and the 


216 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with 
righteousness $ and let thy saints shout for joy. 


Practical Observations. 

There cannot be a greater resemblance to the joys of heaven in any 
pleasure or happiness that we can enjoy in this world, than in that 
tranquillity of mind and conscience which naturally attends and accom¬ 
panies our fervent devotions to God Almighty ; when we have deposit¬ 
ed all our wishes with him, and submitted and resigned all our desires 
to him. Nor can there be a more lively representation upon earth, of 
the court and company of heaven, than in the assemblies and congre¬ 
gations of religious and pious men pouring out their prayers, and cel¬ 
ebrating the praises of their Creator and Redeemer. 

CHAP. CV1II. 

Joy in GocPs universal Government. From the ninety - 
seventh , ninety-eighth, and one hundredth Psalm. 

The Lord reigneth ! let the earth rejoice ; let the mul¬ 
titude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are 
round about him : righteousness and judgment are the 
habitation of his throne. A tire goeth before him, and 
burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings 
enlightened the world : the earth saw, and trembled. 
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at 
the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens 
declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that 
boast themselves of idols ; worship him, all ye gods. 

Zion heard, and was glad, and the daughters of Judah re¬ 
joiced because of thy judgments, O Lord. For thou, Lord, 
art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all 
gods. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil : he preserveth the 
souls of his saints $ hedelivereth them out of the hand of the 
wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness 
for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righte¬ 
ous •, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 

O sing unto the Lord a new song: for he hath done 
marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath 
gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his 
salvation : his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the 
sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy 
and his truth towards the house of Israel: all the ends of 
the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a 
joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud 








David praising God ....Page 217. 



Elisha dividing Jordan ....Page 155, 

































































THE BIBLICAL READER. 


217 


ttoise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord 
with the harp ; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 
With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise 
before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and the ful¬ 
ness thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein. 
Let the floods clap their hands : let the hills be joyful 
together before the Lord ; for he cometh to judge the 
earth : with righteousness shall he judge the world, and 
the people with equity. 

Know ye that the Lord he is God : it is lie that hath 
made us, and not we ourselves ; we are his people, and 
the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with 
thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise ; be thank¬ 
ful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good ; 
his mercy is everlasting$ and his truth endureth to all 
generations. 


Practical Observations. 

The service of God would be the delight of all rational creatures, 
did they all know and love his glorious excellencies, and were they 
sensible of their obligations to him. As far as we on earth take 
pleasure in worshipping him, and can serve him with gladness of 
heart and songs of fervent praise, we emulate the employment, aud 
anticipate the joys of heaven. Let us then study to know the glo¬ 
rious and eternal Jehovah as our Creator, and the God in whom we 
live, and move, and are ; by whose arm we are upheld, and on whose 
bounty we are fed ; and then we shall understand how reasonable it 
is, that we should be thankful to him. But if we also can say, 

* And when like wandering sheep we stray’d. 

He brought us to his fold again,’ 

we shall have abuudant cause “ To enter into his courts with praise, 
to be thankful to him and to bless his name.” His goodness to us 
hath been great beyond expression ; and the effects of his mercy 
will be everlasting to our souls, and his faithfulness is the perpetual 
security for the performance of his largest promises. 

-***® 0 ©«*- 
CHAP. CIX. 

An Exhortation to praise God for his Mercy . From the 
one hundred and third Psalm, 

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, 
bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, arid 
forget not all his benefits : who forgiveth all thine in¬ 
iquities ; who healeth all thy diseases ; w ho redeemeth 
thy life from destruction $ who crowneth thee with loving¬ 
kindness and tender mercies ; who satisfieth thy mouth 
with good things 5 so that thy youth is renewed like the 
eagle’s. 


T 



218 


THE BIBLICAL READER# 


The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all 
that are oppressed, lie made known his ways unto Mo¬ 
ses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is 
merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in 
mercy. He will not always chide : neither will he keep 
his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our 
sins ; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For 
as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mer¬ 
cy towards them that fear him. As far as the east is from 
the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from 
us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord 
pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame $ 
he remembereth that we are dust. 

As for man, his days are as grass : as a flower of the 
field, so he fiourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and 
it is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to ever¬ 
lasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness 
unto children’s children ; to such as keep his covenant, 
and to those that remember his commandments to do 
them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heav¬ 
ens and his kingdom ruleth over all. 


- ’Practical Observations. 

This is one of the most excellent songs of thanksgiying in the 
whole book of Psalms. David seems affected with the highest strains 
of devotion, and the most lively sense of gratitude. He teaches us, by 
this example, to bless God, not only r with our mouth, but with our 
whole heart, and with all the powers of our souls; to cherish the re- 
membrance of ail his mercies, and to take delight in rehearsing them, 
and praising him continually. The prophet here celebrates particu¬ 
larly the infinite mercy of God, who, knowing that we are -but dust, 
bears with us, and does not render to us what our sins deserve ; and 
entertains the same compassion and kindness as a father does for his 
children. But he teaches us, at the same time, that the divine good¬ 
ness is displayed only in behalf of those that fear and reverence him ; 
and that his mercy extends only to them that u keep his covenant, and 
remember his commandments to do them.” 


CHAP. CX. 

The Glory of the divine Perfections as displayed in Crea¬ 
tion and Providence . From the one hundred and fourth 
Psalm. 

Bless the Lord, 0 my soul. 0 Lord my God, thou 
art very great thou art clothed with honour and maj¬ 
esty. \\ ho coverest thyself with light as with a garment: 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


21D 

who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain : wholayeth 
the beams of his chambers in the waters : who maketh 
the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of 
the wind : who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers 
a flaming fire : who laid the foundations of the earth, that 
it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it 
with the deep as with a garment : the waters stood above 
the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled ; at the voice of 
thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the moun¬ 
tains ; they go down by the valleys unto the place which 
thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that 
they may not pass over $ that they turn not again to 
cover the earth. 

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run 
among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the 
field : the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall 
the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing 
among the branches. He watereth the hills from his 
chambers : the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy 
works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and 
herb for the service of man : that he may bring forth food 
out of the earth ; and wine that maketh glad the heart of 
man, and oil to make his face to shine, ykd bread which 
strengtheneth man’s heart. 

The trees of the Lord are full of sap ; the cedars of 
Lebanon which he hath planted : where the birds make 

JL y 

their nests : as for the stork, the fir-trees are her house. 
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats ; and the 
rocks for the conies. He appointeth the moon for sea¬ 
sons : the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest 
darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the 
forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their 
prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, 
they gather themselves together, and lay them down in 
their dens. Man goeth forth to his work and to his la¬ 
bour until the evening. 

O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast 
thou made them all : the earth is full of thy riches. So 
is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping 
innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the 
ships : there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to 
play therein. These wait all upon thee •, that thou 
mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou 
givest them, they gather : thou openest thine hand, they 
are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are 


220 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


troubled : thou takest away their breath, they die, and 
return to their duT. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they 
are created : and thou renewest the face of the earth. 

The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord 
shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it 
trembleth : he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. I will 
sing unto the Lord as long as I live : I will sing praise 
unto my God while I have my being. My meditation oi 
him 'hall be sweet : I will be glad in the Lord. Bless 
thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

{Since the works of the creation are all of them so many demon¬ 
strations of the infinite wisdom and power of God, they may serve to 
us as so many arguments exciting to the constant fear of God, and to 
a steady hearty obedience to all his laws. And thus we may make 
these works as serviceable to our spiritual interest, as they all are to 
our life and temporal interest. For if, whenever we see them, we 
would consider that these are the works of our Divine Lord and Mas- 
ter, to whom we are to be accountable for all our thoughts, words, and 
works, and that in these we may see his infinite power and wisdom— 
this would check us in sinning, and excite us to serve and please him 
who is above all control, and who hath our life and whole happi¬ 
ness in his power. 


CHAP. CXI. 

God’s Omnipresence . From the one hundred and thirty- 

ninth Psalm . 

0 Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou 
knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising; thou under- 
standest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path 
and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 
For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, 
thou knowest it altogether. Such knowledge is too 
wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 
Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? or whither shall I flee 
from thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art 
there : if make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If 1 
take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the utter¬ 
most parts of the sea—even there shall thy hand lead me. 
and thy right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the 
night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hidetli 

not from thee : but the night shineth as the dav ; the dark- 

* ' 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


221 


ness and the light are both alike to thee. I will praise 
thee ; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvel¬ 
lous are thy works ; and that my soul knoweth right 
well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was 
made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts 
of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being 
unperfect; and in thy book all my members were writ¬ 
ten, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet 
there was none of them. 

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God ! 
how great is the sum of them ! If I should count them, 
they are more in number than the sand: when 1 awake, I 
am still with thee. Search me, O God, and know my 
heart: try me, and know my thoughts : and see if there 
be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ever¬ 
lasting. 


Practical Observations. 

We should, by meditation and prayer, seek to have our minds 
suitably affected with the firm belief and habitual recollection, that 
the just, the holy, the Almighty God, fully searches us out and 
knows us, however our fellow-creatures may mistake our characters. 
We should seriously consider, when we are alone, or in company, in 
the shop, the market, the place of worship, or the closet, that the eye 
of God is upon us; that he observeth our down-sitting, and our 
up-rising, and understandeth our thoughts, whether good or bad, 
before they become distinctly observed by our minds, or influ¬ 
ential upon our conduct: that he cornpasseth and investigated! our 
path, and is accurately acquainted with all our ways: and that he 
will bring every secret work into judgment, with every word of our 
lips, and every thought of our hearts. For God surrounds us con¬ 
tinually, and so lays his hand upon us, that we cannot move, or think, 
without his cognizance and. consent. 

CHAP. CXII. 

The Instructions , Promises , and Benefits of Wisdom * 
From the first , second , and third Chapters of Proverbs . 

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my 
commandments with thee; 

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and ap¬ 
ply thine heart to understanding ; 

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up 
thy voice for understanding ; 

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as 
for hid treasures $ 


T 2 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


222 

/ 

Then shalt thou understand the fear ol the Lord, and 
find the knowledge of God. 

For the Lord giveth wisdom : out of his mouth cometh 
knowledge and understanding. 

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous : he is a 
buckler to them that walk uprightly. 

He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the 
way of his saints. 

Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judg¬ 
ment, and equity : yea, every good path. 

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man 
that getteth understanding. 

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchan¬ 
dise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 

She is more precious than rubies : and all the things 
thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 

Length of days is in her right hand ; and in her left 
hand riches and honour. 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths 
are peace. 

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her : 
and happy is every one that retaineth her. 

The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth ; by un¬ 
derstanding hath he established the heavens. 

By 1, is knowledge the depths are broken up, and the 
clouds drop down the dew. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge : 
but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake 
not the law of thy mother : 

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, 
and chains about thy neck. 

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the 
streets : 

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the open¬ 
ings of the gates : in the city she uttereth her words* 
saying, 

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity P and 
the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate 
knowledge ? 

Turn you at my reproof : behold, I will pour out my 
spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto 
you. 

Because I have called, and ye refused ; I have stretch¬ 
ed out my hand, and no man regarded ,* 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 22S 

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would 
none of my reproof : 

I also will laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when 
your fear cometh ; 

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your des¬ 
truction cometh as a whirlwind •, when distress and an¬ 
guish cometh upon you. 

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer 5 
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me : 

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the 
fear of the Lord : 

They would none of my counsel : they despised all my 
reproof. 

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, 
and be filled with their own devices. 

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and 
shall be (juiet from fear of evil. 


Practical Observations. 

If you desire to lead cheerful and comfortable, pleasant and happy 
lives, either in this world, or that which is to come, consecrate your¬ 
selves to God, and make it your business to please him ; walk contin¬ 
ually in the ways of wisdom, performing your duty both to God and 
man : and then you will have pleasure indeed ; such pleasure as the 
world can neither give nor take from you ; such pleasure as will 
refresh your minds, comfort your hearts, support your spirits, rejoice 
your souls in all conditions, and so make you happy both now and for 
ever. 

It is not possible to express the horrible shame and confusion 
which will cover the wicked, when their characters are publickly 
summed up and sealed by the universal Judge ; not an eye will they 
dare to lift up towards him whom they dishonored in this life ; whose 
authority they insulted, and whose laws they set at nought. The con¬ 
sciousness of their presumption and impiety will then overwhelm 
their souls with shame and dread, and remorse unspeakable ; and this 
will be their portion for ever. 


CHAP. CXIII. 

Parental Instruction. From the fourth Chapter of the 

Book of Proverbs. 

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and at¬ 
tend to know understanding. 

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 
For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in 
the sight of my mother. 



224 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart 
retain my words : keep my commandments, and live. 

Get wisdom, get understanding : forget it not ; neither 
decline from the words of my mouth. 

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee : love her, 
and she shall keep thee. 

Wisdom is the principal thing ; therefore get wisdom : 
and with all thy getting, get understanding. 

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee : she shall bring 
thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace : a 
crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings ; and the 
years of thy life shall be many. 

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom : I have led 
thee in right paths. 

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened ; 
and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 

Take fast hold of instruction ; let her not go : keep her, 
for she is thy life. 

Enter not" into the path of the wicked, and go not in 
the way of evil men. 

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away. 

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief ; 
and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to 
fall. 

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the 
wine of violence. 

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that 
shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

The way of the wicked is as darkness : they know not 
at what they stumble. 

My son, attend to my words ; incline thine ear unto 
my sayings. 

Let them not depart from thine eyes ; keep them in the 
midst of thine heart. 

For they are life unto those that find them, and health 
to all their flesh. 

Keep thy heart with all diligence ; for out of it are the 
issues of life. 

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips 
put far from thee. 

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look 
straight before thee. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


225 


Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be 
established. 

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy 
foot from evil. 


Practical Observations. 

We see wherein true wisdom consists. What excellent rules for 
our conduct in this life and preparation for a better, are contained in 
the close of this chapter! In choosing the right end, we should act 
with caution and deliberation. Before we resolve on any action or 
scheme, let us view it narrowly; be exact and critical in considering 
its nature and consequences, then pursue it steadily without waver¬ 
ing, or suffering other objects to interrupt us. By these methods we 
see men prosper in this world ; and the like prudence, forethought, 
and steadiness, are necessary in the care of the soul; and it is peculiar¬ 
ly necessary for young people to acquire this habit. 

Let us take every opportunity that our affairs will allow us, of 
raising our minds to God, and thanking him for his infinite love and 
goodness to us ; and imploring the continual influences of his grace 
and Holy Spirit, and reinforcing our vows and purposes of persever¬ 
ing in his service. By this means we shall come to lead spiritual 
lives indeed. Our souls will be a perpetual fountain of good thoughts ; 
and while we live here, our conversation will be in heaven ; for God, 
and Christ, and the things above, will have our hearts, though the 
world hath our bodies. 


~*+*%^%**+- 

CHAP. CXIV. 

Prudence and Industry. From the sixth Chapter of 

Proverbs. 

Co to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider her ways, and 
be wise : 

Which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her 
food in the harvest. 

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard ? when wilt thou 
arise out of thy sleep ? 

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the 
hands to sleep : 

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and 
thy want as an armed man. 

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a fro- 
ward mouth. 

Frowardness is in his heart ; he deviseth mischief con¬ 
tinually ; he soweth discord. 

These six things doth the Lord hate : yea, seven are 
an abomination unto him ; 









226 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed in¬ 
nocent blood, 

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be 
swift in running to mischief, 

A false witness that speaketh lies, and him that sowetli 
discord among brethren. 

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake 
not the law of thy mother : 

Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them 
about thy neck. 

When thou goest, it shall lead thee ; when thou sleep- 
est, it shall keep thee ; and when thou awakest, it shall 
talk with thee. 

For the commandment is a lamp ; and the law is light j 
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 


Practical Observations. 

Diligence is every man’s wisdom and duty ; that he may not be a 
burden to society, that he may be out of the way of various tempta¬ 
tions, and have it in his power to relieve others. The sluggard is 
therefore referred to the insignificant but provident ant ; who, desti¬ 
tute of reason, and without instructer or ruler, takes more proper care 
for the future, than the slothful do with all their advantages. Habits 
of indolence grow upon people ; at first they only desire a short res¬ 
pite, a little, and a little more indulgence in sloth ; but soon life runs 
to waste—poverty and meanness being the inevitable consequences. 

But it is still more important, that men should avoid indolence in 
the concerns of their souls ; and that in the present transient and pre¬ 
carious summer of life and health, they should prepare for the ap¬ 
proaching winter of sickness, death, judgment, and eternity. To 
numbers it may be well said, “ Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider 
her ways, and be wise.”—“ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard ? 
When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ?”—“Awake, thou that sleepest, 
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light ?” 

CHAP. CXV. 

The Excellency and Eternity of Wisdom. From the 
eighth Chapter of Proverbs. 

Doth not wisdom cry ? and understanding put forth 
her voice P 

She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in 
the places of the paths. 

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the 
coming in at the doors. 

Unto you, 0 men, 1 call ; and my voice is to the sons 
of man. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


227 


0 ye simple, understand wisdom: and ye fools, be ye 
of an understanding heart. 

Hear 5 for I will speak of excellent things 5 and the 
opening of my lips shall be right things. 

For my mouth shall speak truth •, and wickedness is an 
abomination to my lips. 

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness j there 
is nothing froward or perverse in them. 

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right 
to them that find knowledge. 

Receive my instruction, and not silver ; and knowledge 
rather than choice gold. 

For wisdom is better than rubies ; and all the things 
that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 

I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowl¬ 
edge of witty inventions. 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil : pride, and ar- 
rogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I 
hate. 

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom : I am understand¬ 
ing ; I have strength. 

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of 
the earth. 

I love them that love me 5 and those that seek me early 
shall find me. 

Riches and honour are with me ; yea, durable riches 
and righteousness. 

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold ; and 
my revenue than choice silver. 

1 lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the 
paths of judgment. 

That 1 may cause those that love me to inherit sub¬ 
stance ; and 1 will fill their treasures. 

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, 
before his works of old. 

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or 
ever the earth was. 

When there were no depths, I was brought forth ; when 
there were no fountains abounding with water. 

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, was 
I brought forth : 

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, 
nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 

W hen he prepared the heavens, I was there ; when he 
sat a compass upon the face of the depth ; 






228 


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When he established the clouds above: when he 
strengthened the fountains of the deep : 

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters 
should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 
the foundations of the earth : 

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him : and 
I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him ; 

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth $ and my 
delights were with the sons of men. 

Now therefore hearken unto me, 0 ye children : for 
blessed are they that keep my ways. 

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at 
my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

For whoso finaeth me findeth life, and shall obtain fa¬ 
vour of the Lord. 

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul : 
all they that hate me love death. 


Practical Observations. 

The noble description here given of the effects of wisdom, should 
increase our esteem of, and value for it. Wisdom will lead us to 
choose the best ends, and to pursue them by the best means, and 
therefore comprehends the knowledge of our duty, the fear of God 
and a hatred of evil. This wisdom is the greatest excellency of a 
rational being. It is to be preferred to gold and rubies, and every 
thing the heart of man can desire. It brings us substance ; what is 
solid and durable, and will afford us the highest and noblest delight. 
It directs in the government of kingdoms, churches, and families; 
discovers the useful arts of life, and especially ennobles, enriches, and 
sanctifies the soul. It is absolutely necessary for all the sons of men; 
all their learning and wealth, without this, will only make them so 
much the more contemptible and miserable. Let us all then, especial¬ 
ly those who are in early life, pursue it; for Wisdom loves those that 
love her, and those that seek her early shall find her. 

* p p “ 

CHAP. CXYI. 

Maxims of Wisdom, chiefly contrasting Honesty, Humili¬ 
ty, Faithfulness, and Liberality, with the opposite Vices . 

From the eleventh Chapter of Proverbs . 

A false balance is abomination to the Lord : but a 
just weight is his delight. 

When pride cometh, then cometh shame : but with the 
lowly is wisdom. 



“’THE BIBLICAL READER. 


££9 


The integrity of the upright shall guide them : but the 
perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 

Riches profit not in the day of wrath ; but righteousness 
'delivereth from death. 

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way : 
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 

The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: 
but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughti¬ 
ness. 

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall per¬ 
ish : and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 

An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neigh¬ 
bour : but through knowledge shall the just be deliv¬ 
ered. 

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city re- 
joiceth : and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but 
it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but 
a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 

A tale-bearer revealeth secrets : but he that is of a 
faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multi¬ 
tude of counsellors there is safety. 

A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men 
retain riches. 

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul : but he 
that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 

The wicked worketh a deceitful work : but to him that 
soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 

As righteousness tendeth to life : so he that pursueth 
evil, pursueth it to his own death. 

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to 
the Lord : but such as are upright in their way are his 
delight. 

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be 
unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be de¬ 
livered. 

The desire of the righteous is only good: but the ex¬ 
pectation of the wicked is wrath. 

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there 
is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to 
poverty. 

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that water- 
eth shall be watered also himself. 







230 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him ; 
but blessing shall be upon the head oi him that selleth it. 

He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour : but 
he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. 

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righte¬ 
ous shall flourish as a branch. 

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind : 
and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life ; and he that 
winneth souls is wise. 

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: 
much more the wicked and the sinner. 


Practical Observations. 

The liberal soul shall be made fat. In almost every instance, that 
which is best for us, is best for our neighbours; in giving, lending, selling, 
or the contrary, covetousness commonly defeats its own ends ; and 
he who grasps at unfair advantages, comes short of such as he might 
conscientiously and creditably have secured. This indeed is one ef¬ 
fect of human selfishness, and exposes its folly : yet it still continues 
to influence the conduct of almost all men, and often, in circumstan¬ 
ces of such cruelty, as are shocking to relate, and amidst general exe¬ 
cration. The common excuse, indeed, for covetousness, is regard 
to a man’s family : yet this should, in fact, teach a contrary lesson ; 
for the “ seed of the righteous shall be delivered” from those evils 
which overwhelm the posterity of the wicked. 

Acts of prudent liberality do often, in their very nature, promote 
worldly wealth, but the^heavenly riches they never fail to increase. 
Whereas the niggard, by his very covetous and unjust practices, as 
often brings himself to poverty. This, at least, is certain—the more 
any man withholds of which he ought to spend for the benefit of him¬ 
self and others, still the poorer he is, for no man is so poor as he that 
does no good with what he hath. 




CHAP. CXVII. 

The Advantages of Prudence , Diligence, Piety, and Sincer¬ 
ity, and the Mischiefs resulting from the opposite Vices. 
From the thirteenth Chapter of the Book of Proverbs. 

A wise son heareth his father’s instruction : but a 
scorner heareth not rebuke. 

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth : but 
the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 

• He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life : but he 
that openethwide his lips shall have destruction. 

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: 
but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


231 


A righteous man hateth lying : but a wicked man is 
loathsome, and cometh to shame. 

Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way : 
but wickedness overtiiroweth the sinner. 

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing : 
there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. 

1 he ransom of a man’s life are his riches : but the poor 
heareth not rebuke. 

, J h e light of the righteous rejoiceth : but the lamp of the 
wicked shall be put out. 

Only by pride cometh contention : but with the well- 
advised is wisdom. 


Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished : but he 
that gathereth by labour shall increase. 

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the 
desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 

Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed : but he 
that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. 

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from 
the snares of death. 

Good understanding giveth favour : but the way of 
transgressors is hard. 

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge : but a fool 
layeth upon his folly. 

A wicked messenger falleth into mischief : but a faith¬ 
ful ambassador is health. 

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refusethinstruc¬ 
tion : but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. 

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul : but it is 
abomination to fools to depart from evil. 

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise : but a 
companion of fools shall be destroyed. 

Evil pursueth sinners : but to the righteous 
be repaid. 

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s 
children : and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the 
just. 

Much food is in the tillage of the poor : but there is 
that is destroyed for want of judgment. 

He that spareth his rod hateth his son : but he that 
loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 


good shall 


Practical Observations. 

The light of the righteous rejoiceth ; but the lamp of the wicked 
shall be put out. If we take an estimate of human happiness from 





232 


the biblical reader. 


the morals of men, and the riches of the mind, how superior an advan¬ 
tage has virtue to vice ! True virtue is not only a treasure that endan- 
gers not, but it is the securest treasure, and blessing of life ; it can 
neither be taken from us, nor we from it. It is a light that casts a 
splendour around us, and joys within us ; it is a happiness entire and 
complete, not only in the opinion of others who behold it, but it is 
sweetly felt and tasted in ourselves, and shed abroad in our hearts. 
All suffrages, both of the world and our own consciences, concur to 
pronounce it the true and only perfect felicity of man. But the hap¬ 
piness of vice is no more than a lamp is to the light of the sun : it may 
have some glimmerings of light, some faint shadow of happiness, but 
hath nothing solid or lasting in it. Few, indeed, are so wicked but 
.they have a lamp , some show or appearance of virtue ; and so far on¬ 
ly are they happy as that appearance goes. But death puts an end 
to both ; thus life and their lamp are extinguished together. No light 
but that which is from above, and cometh down from the Father of 
lights, can carry us to the regions of bliss. And this is the light of the 
righteous here spoken of, a light which cannot be put out by af¬ 
fliction or death \ but rather is still more brightened by both ; still 
shines more and more to the perfect day, and therefore rejoiceth for 
ever. Lord ! give unto us this light, and take what else thou pleasjcst 
away. 

CHAP. CXVIII. 

Sundry Maxims , shewing the Excellence of the Christian 

Virtues . From the fifteenth , sixteenth , seventeenth , 

eighteenth , nineteenth , and twenty-first Chapters of 

Proverbs . 

A soft answer turneth away wrath : but grievous 
words stir up anger. 

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the 
mouth of fools pour6th out foolishness. 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the 
evil and the good. 

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness 
therein is a breach in the spirit. 

A fool despiseth his father’s instruction : but he that 
regardeth reproof is prudent. 

In the house of the righteous is much treasure : but in 
the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the 
Lord : but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the 

Lord : but he loveth him that followeth after righteous¬ 
ness. 

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh 
knowledge : but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. 

Better is a little with .the fear of the Lord, than great 
treasure and trouble therewith. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


2S3 


Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled 
ox and hatred therewith. 

A wrathful man stirreth up strife ; but he that is slow 
to anger appeaseth strife. 

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth : and a 
word spoken in due season, how good is it ! 

He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul : 
but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom : and 
before honour is humility. 

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer 
of the tongue, is from the Lord. 

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes ; but 
the Lord weigheth the spirits.' 

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even 
his enemies to be at peace with him. 

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold ? and 
to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver ! 

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil ; he 
that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit 
before a fall. 

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, 
than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the 
end thereof are the ways of death. 

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in 
the way of righteousness. 

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty ; 
and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. 

The lot is cast into the lap ; but the whole disposing 
thereof is of the Lord. 

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker : and 
he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out 
water : therefore leave off’contention, before it be meddled 
with. 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower : the righteous 
runneth into it, and is sate. 

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity $ but a 
wounded spirit who can bear ? 

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly : 
and there is a friend thatsticketh closer than a brother. 

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; 
and that which he hath given will he pay him again. 

U 2 


234 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


There are many devices in a man’s heart j nevertheless 
the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. 

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the riv¬ 
ers of water : heturneth it whithersoever lie will. 

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes : but the 
Lord pondereth the hearts. 

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the 
Lord than sacriiice. 

An high look, and a proud heart, and the ploughing of the 
wicked, is sin. 

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness ; 
but of every one that is hasty, only to want. 


Practical Observations. 

The best defence, as well as remedy, against anger, is meekness 
There is an invincible charm in the mild looks and soft words of this 
pacitick virtue, which shames, or tames, the fiercest wrath. But an¬ 
ger opposed to anger, adds fuel to the flame, and rather enrages than 
allays its fury. In such rencountres as these, it appears that true forti¬ 
tude lies in the mild and gentle dispositions of this truly Christian, 
though despised, virtue ; which is, therefore, most propeily cardinal, 
as it is rather the cause than the effect of a calm and steady courage. 
It receives the fire and most violent attacks of anger, but without 
emotion or surprise : It beareth all things, endureth all things, and 
overcometh evil with good. To beai and to forbear, is its character, 
and its victory. To the roughest eludings of a superior, it stands not 
sullenly silent, but owns a real fault, by an ingenuous confession, and 
wipes off unjust blame, by a mild and modest vindication. To the 
clamorous revilings, and injurious treatment of equals or inferiors, 
its only revenge is patience or disregard: and, in all disputes, it gains 
the better of others’passions, by suppressing its own. Its constant 
and most effectual answer to the rudest assaults, is a good word or a 
good example. 

CHAP. CXIX. 

A good Name , Prudence , Uprightness , and Maxims 

relating to various Particulars in human Conduct . 

From the tiventy-second Chapter of Proverbs. 

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, 
and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 

The rich and poor meet together : the Lord is the ma¬ 
ker of them all. 

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: 
but the simple pass on, and are punished. 

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and 
honour, and life. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


235 


Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward : he 
that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 

Train up a child in the way he should go : and when he 
is old. he will not depart from it. 

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod 
of his anger shall fail. 

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed ; for he 
giveth of his bread to the poor. 

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out ; yea, 
strife and reproach shall cease. 

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he over- 
throweth the words of the transgressor. 

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall 
be slain in the streets. 

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child ; but the 
rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and 
he that giveth to the rich, shall sureiy come to want. 

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, 
and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee | 
they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 

That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known 
to thee this day, even to thee. 

Have not 1 written to thee excellent things in counsels 
and knowledge, 

That I might make thee know the certainty of the 
words of truth ; that thou mightest answer the words of 
truth to them that send unto thee ? 

Rob not the poor, because he is poor : neither oppress 
the afflicted in the gate : 

For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul 
of those that spoiled them. 

Make no friendship with an angry man ,* and with at 
furious man thou shalt not go : 

Lest thou learn his ways,* and get a snare to thy soul. 

Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them 
that are sureties for debts. 

If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away 
thy bed from under thee ? 

Remove not the ancient land-mark, which thy fathers 
have set. 

Seest thou a man diligent in his business ? he shall 
stand before kings $ he shall not stand before mean men. 



236 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


Practical Observations. 

We are continually reminded, that the rich and poor will meet to¬ 
gether before their common Creator, as their impartial Judge. If 
then the rich have authority over his poor neighbour, let him use it 
with gentleness and without arrogance or contempt: if he lend, or 
give to him, let him not attempt to domineer over him on that ac¬ 
count, remembering that both are upon a level before the Lord. 
Riches and power are as land to be cultivated : but he who sows iniq¬ 
uity will reap vanity, and be turned out of his stewardship with dis¬ 
grace. They who oppress the poor to increase their riches; yea, 
they who spend that in presents and entertainments for the rich, 
which was intrusted to them that they might feed the poor, will sure¬ 
ly come to want either here or hereafter. But he whose eye is look¬ 
ing out continually for necessitous persons, to whom he may dispense 
his bounty, and who gives liberally of his bread to the poor, shall 
abound in blessings : and the rich have the poor always with them, 
that whensoever they will, they may do them good, and so obtain 
these blessings. And let the poor remember that the Lord made the 
difference betwixt their lot and that of the rich : let them then submit 
to his wise and righteous will, without envy or murmurings : let them 
be humble, obliging, frugal, and industrious, attending to the duties 
of their station, and expecting the great decisive day : for “ by hu¬ 
mility, and the fear of the Lord, are true riches, and honor and life 
but proud, ungodly, dishonest, and licentious poverty, is indeed dis¬ 
graceful and ruinous. 

-* 1 

CHAP. CXX. 

Kindness to Enemies, Self-Conceit, Slotlifnlness, Procras¬ 
tination, Vain-Glory, Wrath, Envy, Good Reproof, 
Contentment, and human Sympathy. From the twenty- 
fifth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh Chapters of 
Proverbs. 

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat ; and 
if he be thirsty, give him water to drink ; 

For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the 
Lord shall reward thee. 

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also 
be like unto him. 

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ? There is 
more hope of a fool than of him. j 

Boast not thyself of to-morrow $ for thou knowest not 
what a day may bring forth. 

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth $ 
a stranger, and not thine own lips. 

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous 5 but who is 
able to stand before envy r 

Open rebuke is better than secret love. 


THEi BIBLICAL READER. 


237 


Faithful are the wounds of a friend ; but the kisses of 
an enemy are deceitful. 

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man 
that wandereth from his place. 

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the 
sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. 

Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not $ 
neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy ca¬ 
lamity : for better is a neighbour that is near, than a 
brother far off. 

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may 
answer him that reproacheth me. 

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself 5 
but the simple pass on, and are punished. 

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising 
early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 

Iron sharpeneth iron ; so a man sharpeneth the counte¬ 
nance of his friend. 

As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man 
to man. 

Hell and destruction are never full : so the eyes of 
man are never satisfied. 

As the fining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold $ 
so is a man to his praise. 


Practical Observations. 

Among the excellent maxims here given for our instruction, this 
one is deserving of particular notice —“ Boast not thyself of to-mor¬ 
row ; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”—Let us learn, 
then, not to set too high a value upon any earthly goods, nor to bestow 
any great degree of affection upon them ; for they are all moveable 
and mutable. Riches have wings and swiftly pass from one hand to 
another. Honour is a glaring meteor, that blazes for a time, and is 
soon extinct. Reputation is an airy bubble, blown up and broke at 
pleasure, by the fickle breath of the injudicious multitude. In a 
word, power is precarious; pleasure is very fugitive, and so is life it¬ 
self; and, therefore, what real good, what solid satisfaction can there 
be in any of these things P without doubt, if we expect it from them, 
we shall find ourselves mistaken in our account, and reap nothing 
in the end “ but vanity and vexation of spirit.” To prevent which 
wretched disappointment, our only way must be to fix our hearts upon 
heavenly treasures which no moth nor rust can corrupt, and to 
place our affections entirely upon God, who is immutably and inex¬ 
haustibly good, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. 




238 


THE BIBLICAT READER. 


CHAP. CXXI. 

Various Maxims relating to Hi man 1 irtuc. From the 
twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth Chapters of Proverbs . 

The wicked flee when no man pursueth : but the 
righteous are bold as a lion. 

A poor man that oppressed! the poor is like a sweep¬ 
ing rain which leaveth no food. 

They that forsake the law praise the wicked : but such 
as keep the law contend with them. 

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek 
the Lord understand all things. 

Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than 
he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. 

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son : but he that is a 
companion of riotous men shameth his father. 

Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil 
way, he shall fall himself into his own pit : but the up¬ 
right shall have good things in possession. 

The rich man is wise in lvis own conceit; but the poor 
that hath understanding searcheth him out. 

When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory : 
but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden. 

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper : but whoso 
confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 

Happy is the man that feareth always : but he that 
hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 

A faithful man shall abound with blessings : but he 
that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. 

To have respect of persons is not good : for, for a 
piece of bread that man will transgress. 

He that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more fa¬ 
vour than he that flattereth with the tongue. 

Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It 
is no transgression ; the same is the companion of a de¬ 
stroyer. 

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool : but whoso 
walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. 

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he 
that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. 

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall 
suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 

When the righteous are in authority, the people re¬ 
joice ; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people 
mourn. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


239 


Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father : but lie that 
keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. 

The righteous considered! the cause of the poor : but 
the wicked regardeth not to know it. 

Scornful men bring a city into a snare : but wise men 
turn away wrath. 

The rod and reproof give wisdom : but a child left to 
himself bringeth his mother to shame. 

Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest : yea, he 
shall give delight unto thy soul. 

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words P there is 
more hope of a fool than of him. 

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall 
uphold the humble in spirit. 

The fear of man bringeth a snare : but whoso putteth 
his trust in the Lord shall be safe. 


Practical Observations. 

A man’s pride shall bring him low; but honour shall uphold the 
humble in spirit. Is tnis indeed the fact ? Is humility the only way 
to praiseworthy distinction ? If so, it may well be said, Come 
down, vain man, from the throne which thy vanity and thy 
flatterers have erected for thee in thy own imagination, and be¬ 
hold thyself springing from the dust, and borrowing all thou art so 
highly vain of from the same original. Behold thy heart polluted and 
enslaved by mean appetites, and brutal passions; and thy boasted 
reasonjmposed on by slight appearances, hoodwinked with childish 
ignorance, and misled by shameful errors. Behold thy body subject 
to accidents, afflicted with sickness, and destroyed by death, which 
stands by thy side, waiting for the signal to strike thee down. But 
above all, remember thy sins, thy many open and secret sins, and be¬ 
hold thyself led by them, like a slave far from thy known happiness, 
through a course of life condemned by thy own reason and conscience 
to endless disgrace and misery. Behold this picture of thyself; com 
sider it attentively ; and then tell us, Canst thou be proud ! 

CHAP. CXXII. 

The Prayer of Agur. From the thirtieth Chapter of the 

Book of Proverbs . 

The words of Agur the son of Ja'keh, even the prophe¬ 
cy : the man spake unto Ith'iel, even unto Ithiel and 
Ucal, 

I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of 
the holy. 

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended ? 
who hath gathered the wind in his lists ? who hath bound 





240 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


the waters in a garment? who hath established all the 
ends of the earth ? what is his name, and what is his son’s 
name, if thou canst tell ? 

Every word of God is pure : he is a shield unto them 
that put their trust in him. 

Two things have I required of thee : deny me them 
not before I die : 

Remove far from me vanity and lies ; give me neither 
poverty nor riches ; feed me with food convenient for 
me, 

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the 
Lord ? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of 
my God in vain. 

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, 
and yetis not washed from their filthiness. 

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes ! and 
their eyelids are lifted up. 

The eye that mocketn at his father, and despiseth to 
obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, 
and the young eagles shall eat it. 


Practical Observations. 

You who are placed by Providence in that middle situation of life 
which Agur prays for, as being the most desirable to a wise and good 
man, if he were left to his own choice, be thankful to God that you do 
not feel the miseries of poverty, “ but are fed with food convenient 
for you j” and that you are free from the snares and temptations of 
riches. Envy not the gay and painted outside of greatness, when 
you do not see the secret worm of discontent and disappointment, of 
baffled ambition, and mortified pride, and stifled resentment, that often 
gnaws within ; but know your own happiness and be content, believ¬ 
ing that Providence has chosen better for you than you would have 
done for yourselves. Be diligent and industrious in your callings, 
and honest in all your dealings. Affect not to live above your condi¬ 
tion. Let simplicity and neatness be the ornaments of your houses, 
and persons, and tables, and what you thus retrench from the super¬ 
fluity and vanity of living, will supply your charity, and enable you 
to lay up for yourselves a good foundation for the time to come, that 
ye may lay hold of eternal life. 

444 « 


CHAP. CXXIII. 

The Character and Value of a virtuous Woman. From 
the thirty-first Chapter of Proverbs. 

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his moth¬ 
er taught him. 

Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far 
above rubies. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


241 


The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so 
that he shall have rio need of spoil. 

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with 
her hands. 

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to 
her household, and a portion to her maidens. 

She considereth a lield, and buyetli it: with the fruit 
of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good : her can¬ 
dle goeth not out by night. 

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold 
the distaff. 

She stretcheth outlier hand to the poor •, yea, she reach- 
eth forth her hands to the needy. 

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for 
all her household are clothed with scarlet. 

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry ; her clothing 
is silk and purple. 

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth 
among the elders of the land. 

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; and delivereth 
girdles unto the merchant. 

Strength and honour are her clothing ; and she shall 
rejoice in time to come. 

She openeth her mouth with wisdom ; and in her 
tongue is the law of kindness. 

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eat- 
eth not the bread of idleness. 

Her children arise up, and call her blessed : her hus¬ 
band also, and he praiseth her. 

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excel- 
lest them all. 

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain : but a woman 
that feareth the Lord, she shail be praised. 

Give her of the fruit of her hands ; and let her own 
works praise her in tiie gates. 

Practical Observations. 

It is well worthy of observation, that in this description of a virtu¬ 
ous woman, eleven of the twenty two verses are taken up in setting 
forth her industry and the effects of it A variety of language is made 
use of to describe her different employments, to recommend simplicity 
of manners, and make good housewifery and honest labour to be ad¬ 
mired in the rich and noble, as well as in the poor and obscure among 
women. In works of the several kinds here named, queens and prin 
cesses of old time disdained not to be occupied. 

w 






242 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


Happy the children of such a mother ; they will be living proofs of 
the care taken by her in their education, when she taught, them to 
walk by the paths of virtue and honour, to the mansions of rest and 
glory. Happy the husband of such a wife, who sees all things pros¬ 
per under her direction, and the blessing of Heaven derived to his fam¬ 
ily through her; they will all join in proclaiming, that among the 
women who do well, honour is chiefly due to the virtuous and diligent 
wife, the affectionate and sensible mother. 

-***®@®«*- 

CHAP. CXXIV. 

Vanity and Vexation of all worldly Possessions and En¬ 
joyments. From the first and second Chapters of the 
Book of Ecclesiastes. 

The words of the preacher, the son of David, king of 
Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, feaith the preacher, vanity 
of vanities ; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all 
his labour which he taketh under the sun r One genera¬ 
tion passeth away, and another generation cometh : but 
the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the 
sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 
The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about 
unto the north ; it whirleth about continually, and the 
wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the 
rivers run into the sea ; yet the sea is not full : unto the 
place from whence the rivers come, thither they return 
again. All things are full of labour $ man cannot utter it: 
the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with 
hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall 
be ; and that which is done is that which shall be done : 
and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any 
thing whereof it may be said, See this is new P it hath 
been already of old time, which was before us. There is 
no remembrance of former things ; neither shall there be 
any remembrance of things that are to come wit(i those 
that shall come after. 

I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And 
I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom con¬ 
cerning all things that are done under heaven : this sore 
travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised 
therewith. I made me great works ; I budded me houses ; 

I planted me vineyards : I made me gardens and orchards, 
and-1 planted trees in them of all kind of fruits : I made 
me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that 
bringeth forth trees : also I had great possessions above 
all that weie in Jerusalem before me ; 1 gathered me 
also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings, 
and of the provinces. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


243 


So I was great, and increased more than all that were 
before me in Jerusalem : also my wisdom remained with 
me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from 
them, I withheld not my heart from any joy ; for my heart 
rejoiced in all my labour : and this was my portion of all 
my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my 
hands had wrought, and on the labour that 1 had labour¬ 
ed to do : and behold, all was vanity and vexation of 
spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. For what 
hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, 
wherein he hath laboured under the sun ? For all his days 
are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh 
not rest in the night. This is also vanity. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who was the writer of this chapter ?-What acts docs he men¬ 
tion that he had performed ?--Mow did he compare with others in 

riches?-What did he say of all his possessions ? 


Practical Observations. 

If indeed, like the sun, we rejoice to run our course of duty, and 
make haste to till up our measure of services to our generation, ac¬ 
cording to the will of God, and then seek our rest in him, the short¬ 
ness of human life and the vanity of the world will be no loss to us. 
But if we seek our happiness, and attempt to take up our rest on 
earth, where all things are flill of labour, we shall at last be where 
we set out; all our toil and inquietude will be in vain, and we must 
then go and give an account of ourselves to God our Creator and 
Judge. We cannot alter this state of things, which is the effect of 
man’s apostasy, and of the wrath of God against his sins ; our wis¬ 
dom therefore consists in accommodating ourselves to it; and in 
ceasing to expect satisfaction here, where every short-lived enjoy¬ 
ment either palls and nauseates through excess, or grows insipid 
through repetition. For no discovery has yet been made of any new 
source of pleasure or happiness, which is exempt from vanity and 
vexation : after all our boasted improvements, the world is the same 
discontented, disappointed place, that men complained of in former 
ages : and it will be the same when we are gone, or forgotten, like 
those former things of which there is no remembrance. 


CHAP. CXXV. 

Religious Worship, Vanity of Riches , Benefit of Sorrow 
above vain Mirth , Advantage of Wisdom, and the Sin 
and Ruin of Man. From the fifth and seventh Chapters 
of Ecclesiastics. 


Keep tby foot when thou goest to the house of God, 
and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice ot 
fools : for they consider not that they do evil. Be not 
rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to 
utter any thing before God : for (rod is in heaven, and 






244 


THE BIBLICAL -READER. 


thou upon earth : therefore let thy words be few. When 
thou vowest a vow unto God defer not to pay it ; for he 
hath no pleasure in fools : pay that which thou hast vow¬ 
ed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than 
that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent 
perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel 
not at the matter : for he that is higher than the highest 
regardeth ; and there be higher than they. 

Moreover, the profit of the earth is for all : the king 
himself is served by the field. He that loveth silver 
shall not be satisfied with silver : nor he that loveth abun¬ 
dance with increase : this is also vanity. When goods 
increase, they are increased that eat them: and what 
good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding 
of them with their eyes ? The sleep of a labouring man 
is sweet, whether he eat little or much : but the abun¬ 
dance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is 
a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, 
riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go 
to the house of feasting : for that is the end of all men ^ 
and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better 
than laughter ; for by the sadness of the countenance the 
heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the 
house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house 
of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, 
than for a man to hear the song of fools. Be not hasty 
in thy spirit to be angry : for anger resteth in the bosom 
of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause that the for¬ 
mer days were better than these ? for thou dost not in¬ 
quire wisely concerning this. 

Wisdom is good with an inheritance : and by it there 
is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a de¬ 
fence, and money is a defence: but the excellency 
of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them 
that have it. in the day of prosperity be joyful, 
but in the day of adversity consider : God also 
hath set the one over against the other, to the end 
that man should find nothing after him. For there is 
not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth 
not. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made 
man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is said concerning <join^ to the house of God — What is 

said of making vows ?-Vhat is said of mourning and feasting ?- 

What declaration is made of man P 


the biblical reader. 


245 


Practical Observations. 

When the wise man bids us go to the house of mourning, when he 
tells us that sorrow is better t han laughter, lie is not to be understood 
as prohibiting all mirth, as requiring us to wear a perpetual cloud on 
our brow, and to sequester ourselves from every cheerful entertain¬ 
ment of social life. His true meaning is, that there is a certain 
temper and state of mind which is of far greater consequence to real 
happiness, than the habitual indulgence of giddy and thoughtless 
mirth; that, for the attainment and cultivation of this temper, fre¬ 
quent returns of grave reflection arc necessary ; that, upon this ac¬ 
count, it is profitable to give admission to those views of human dis¬ 
tress, which tend to awaken such reflections in the mind, and that 
thus, from the vicissitudes of sorrow, which we either experience in 
our own lot, or sympathize with in the lot of others, much wisdom 
and improvement may be derived. 




CHAP. CXXVI. 


Like things happen to good and had Men till Death. 
Suddenness of Calamities , and the Want of Respect 
shown to Wisdom. From the ninth Chapter of Ec¬ 
clesiastes. 

For all this I considered in my heart even to declare 
all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, 
are in the hand of Cod : no man knoweth either love or 
hatred by ail that is before them. All things come alike 
to all : there is one event to the righteous, and to the 
wicked ; to the good and to the clean, and to the un¬ 
clean ; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacri- 
ficeth not : as is the good, so is the sinner ; and he that 
sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.. 

This is an evil among all things that are done under the 
sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart 
of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their 
heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead 
know r not any thing, neither have they any more a re¬ 
ward j for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their 
love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished ; 
neither have they any more a portion for ever in any 
thing that is done under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand 
findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, 
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, 
whither thou goest. 

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not 
to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet 
bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understand- 

W 2 


•246 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ing, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance 
happeneth to them all. For man also knovveth not his 
time ; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as 
the birds that are caught in the snare ; so are the sons of 
men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon 
them. 

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it 
seemed great unto me : There was a little city, and few 
men within it; and there came a great king against it, 
and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. 
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his 
wisdom delivered the city ; yet no man remembered that 
same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than 
strength : nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, 
and his words are not heard. 


Practical Observations. 

We may observe upon this chapter, 1. That though good and bad 
events are common to all men, as Solomon acquaints us, yet just 
men and their actions are nevertheless in the hands of God, who 
will judge both the righteous and the wicked. 2. When we are told 
by Solomon, “ that the dead have no longer any share in what pass¬ 
es in this world, and that their love and hatred are both at an end • 
and therefore, that we ought to eat our bread with joy all the days 
of our life his design is, that we should improve the advantages of 
life, and make a wise use of what we have in possession. But let us 
not abuse that notion, and imagine we are at full liberty to give our¬ 
selves up to worldly joys and pleasures, and to say with the ungodly, 
“ Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” 3. Solomon teaches 
us, that wisdom and strength are profitable upon many occasions ; but 
that, however, we are not the masters of contingencies ; and that 
we often fall into misfortunes, without being able to foresee or pre¬ 
vent them. This teaches us never to rely upon our own strength, 
prudence, and address, and to remember always that we depend upon 
Providence. 

CHAP. CXXVII. 

Early Piety and the Fear of God. From the eleventh 
and twelfth Chapters of Ecclesiastes . 

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it 
after many days. In the morning sow thy seed, and in 
the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knowest 
not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether 
they both shall be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, 
and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun : 
But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; 
yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


247 


shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Rejoice, O 
young man, in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in 
the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine 
heart, and in the sight of thine eyes ; but know thou, that 
for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away 
evil from thy flesh : for childhood and youth are vanity. 

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 
while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, 
when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them $ while 
the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not 
darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain : in the 
day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and 
the strong men snail bow themselves, and the grind¬ 
ers cease because they are few, and those that look 
out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall 
be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding 
is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and 
all the daughters of music shall be brought low; also 
when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears 
shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, 
and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall 
fail : beeause man goeth to his long home, and the mourn¬ 
ers go about the streets : or ever the silver cord be loosed, 
or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at 
the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then 
shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and the spirit 
shall return unto God who gave it. 

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. 
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still 
taught the people knowledge: yea, he gave good heed, and 
sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preach¬ 
er sought to find out acceptable words : and that which 
was written, was upright, even words of truth. The 
words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by 
the masters of assemblies, which are given from one 
shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonish¬ 
ed : of making many books there is no end $ and much 
study is a weariness of the flesh. 

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : fear 
God, and keep his commandments : for this is the whole 
duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judg^ 
ment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or 
whether it be evil. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


£48 

QUESTIONS 

What is said of the man who lives many years ?-What is said 

to the young man ?-Why are youth directed to remember their - 

Creator r-What is said to be the whole duty of man ? 


Practical Observations. 

Let all, especially the young, seriously think of and prepare for 
death and judgment, for they are most ready to forget it. However 
pleasant your path may be, and though light may shine around you 
on every side, yet remember the days of darkness ; you must ex¬ 
pect your share of trouble and sorrow. Do not raise your expecta¬ 
tions too high, but be moderate in your pursuits and enjoyments ; 
affliction and death will certainly come ; and after death the judg¬ 
ment. Young people should recollect the vanity of childhood and 
youth ; what dangerous temptations surround them, and how un¬ 
certain life is ; and should consider the future judgment to correct 
their love of pleasure, and keep them from sensual mirth. But if 
they will despise the advice of their friends, and xcalk in the way of 
their oicn hearts , they will bring evil upon their flesh and sorrow 
upon their souls, and will have a dreadful account to give at last. 
Let us all therefore, seeing we look for such things , be diligent , that 
we may be found of him in peace at his appearing. 

CHAP. CXXVIIL 

Isaiah's Complaint of Judah , and Exhortation to Re¬ 
pentance. From the first Chapter of Isaiah. 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw 
concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Hear, O heavens, and 
give ear, O earth : for the Lord hath spoken, I have nour¬ 
ished and brought up children, and they have rebelled 
against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his 
master’s crib : but Israel doth not know, my people doth 
not consider. Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniq¬ 
uity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters : 
they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the 
Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away back¬ 
ward. 

Why should ye be stricken any more ? Ye will revolt 
more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole 
heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head 
there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and 
putrifying sores : they have not been closed, neither 
bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country 
is desolate, your cities are burned with fire : your land 
strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate! 
as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is 
left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a besieged city. Ex- 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


249 


cept the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small rem¬ 
nant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have 
been like unto Gomorrah. 

Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom ; give 
ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto 
me ? saith the Lord : I delight not in the blood of bul¬ 
locks, or ol Iambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to ap¬ 
pear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to 
tread my courts ? Bring no more vain oblations ; incense 
is an abomination unto me ; the new moons and sabbaths, 
the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with,* it is iniq¬ 
uity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and 
your appointed feasts my soul hateth : they are a trouble 
unto me ; I am weary to bear them. And when ye 
spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you : 
yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear : your 
hands are full of blood. 

Wash ye, make you clean ; put away the evil of your 
doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil 5 learn to 
do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the 
fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us 
reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as 
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be 
red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing 
and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land : but if ye 
refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword : 
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 

QUESTIONS. 

Whose son was Isaiah?-What was the moral condition of Judah ? 

-What does he caution the people not to do ?-What does he 

exhort them to do ?-With what are they threatened if they con¬ 

tinue disobedient ? 


Practical Observations. 

By the grace of the gospel, the most enslaved sinner may “ put 
away the evils of his doings from before the eyes ol the Lord : he 
may" be enabled “ to cease to do evil, and may learn to do well : w 
and may also find pardon and acceptance by faith in Jesus Christ, 
And when his faith worketh by love of God and man, and he seeks 
to do judgment, to relieve the oppressed, and to patronize the father¬ 
less and widow, according to his station in society ; this change ol 
temper and conduct will prove him interested in all the blessings of a 
free salvation. Well then may Jehovah call upon us to draw near to 
him, that he may reason with us ; for all his dispensations are most 
righteous and reasonable. What can be more rational, than every 
precept of his holy law ? What more reasonable than his call to re¬ 
pent and believe his gospel ? If we be willing and obedient, our sms, 





250 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


though of crimson and scarlet hue, will become as snow or wool } 
and every blessing will be communicated : and it we continue to re¬ 
fuse and rebel, we must be consumed by his righteous vengeance: 
u foi the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” 

~~**gQ9-**— 


CHAP. CXXIX. 

Predictions relating to the Establishment and Glory of 

Christ's Kingdom. From the second and fourth Chap¬ 
ters of Isaiah. 

It shall come to pass in the last days, that the moun¬ 
tain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of 
the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills ; and 
all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go 
and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of 
the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob ; and 
he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in 
his paths : for out of Zion shall go forth the law, 
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he 
shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many 
people : and they shall beat their swords into plough¬ 
shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks : nation shall 
not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn 
war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us 
walk in the light of the Lord, Enter into the rock, and 
hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the 
glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be 
humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed 
down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 
For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one 
that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted 
up ; and he shall be brought low : and the Lord alone 
shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall 
utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the 
rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the 
Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth 
to shake terribly the earth. 

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his 
idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to 
worship, to the moles and to the bats; for fear of the 
Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth 
to shake terribly the earth. Cease ye from man, whose 
breath is in his nostrils : for wherein is he to be ac¬ 
counted of ? In that day shall the branch of the Lord be 
beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


251 


excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and 
he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called hoi), even 
every one that is written among the livmg in Jerusalem : 
"When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the 
daughters ol Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Je¬ 
rusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, 
and by the spirit of burning. 

And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of 
mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke 
by day, and the shining of a flaming lire by night: for up¬ 
on all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a 
tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and 
for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and 
from rain. 

QUESTIONS. 

W hat is the prediction concerning the mountain of the Lord’s 

House?-What one concerning war? -What one relating to 

man ?-What is said shall be the condition of the branch of the 

Lord ? 


Practical Observations . 

While we wait and pray for those glorious days, when the king¬ 
doms of the earth shall become the kingdoms ol Jesus, and all their 
inhabitants being humbled and changed by his grace, shall live in 
equity, truth, and love ; cultivate the arts of useful industry; study to be 
quiet, and to do their own business, and learn war no more : let us 
avail ourselves of the light afforded us, and come and walk in it. Let 
us remember that when true religion greatly flourishes, men bestow 
great diligence, and take much delight in going up to the house of 
the Lord, and in exciting others to accompany them ; they desire and 
expect that he should teach them his ways, in order that they may 
walk in them : and they gladly receive his law from mount Zion as 
their rule of duty, welcome the authority as well as the salvation of 
the Redeemer, and submit to his rebukes, as well as desire his conso¬ 
lations. And let us remember also, that the humble disciple of Christ 
is, in every age, a harmless and blameless, a benevolent and quiet 
person, who follows peace and holiness, forbearing and forgiving oth¬ 
ers, as Christ hath forgiven him : insomuch, that if all were of his tem¬ 
per, wars and furious contentions, publick or private, would soon be 
annihilated. 

CHAP. CXXX. 

The Coming and Kingdom of Christ. From the seventh, 
ninth , eleventh , and twelfth Chapters of Isaiah . 

Behold, a virgin shall bear a son, and shall call his 
name Immanuel. The people that walked in darkness 
have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of 
the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined* 









$52 , THE BIBLICAL READER. 

They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and 
as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou 
hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the rod of his 
oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle 
of’ the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled 
in blood ; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and 
the government shall be upon his shoulder : and his name 
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the 
increase of his government and peace there shall be no 
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, 
to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with 
justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the 
Lord of hosts will perform this. 

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the 
spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel 
and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the 
Lord ; and shall make him of quick understanding in the 
fear of the Lord : and he shall not judge after the sight 
of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears : 
but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and re¬ 
prove with equity for the meek of the earth : and he shall 
smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the 
breath of his lips, shall he slay the wicked. 

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leop¬ 
ard shall lie down with the kid ; and the calf and the 
young lion and the fatling together ; and a little child 
shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed ; 
their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion 
shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall 
play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall 
put his hand on the cockatrice-den. They shall not hurt 
nor destroy in all my holy mountain : for the earth shall 
be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover 
the sea. 

And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise 
thee : though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is 
turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is 
my salvation ; 1 will trust, and not be afraid : for the Lord 
Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become 
my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water 
out of the wells of salva ion. And in that day shall ye 
say, Praise the Lord, call upon hi3 name, declare his 
doings among the people, make mention that his name 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


253 


is exalted. Sing unto the Lord ; for he hath done excel¬ 
lent things : this is known in all the earth. Cry out and 
shou-t, thou inhabitant of Zion : for great is the Hoiy One 
of Israel in the midst of thee. 

QUESTIONS. 

By what, names was it declared that Christ should be called ? - 

What is said of the increase of his government ?-What is the pre¬ 

diction concerning the peaceable nature of the subjects of his king¬ 
dom ? 


Practical Observations. 

We read in the beginning of this chapter, “The people that 
walketh in darkness have seen a great light which words were ful¬ 
filled, not only in the deliverance which God formerly vouchsafed 
the Jews, when he defended them against their enemies; but 
chiefly, in the favour granted to that people, and afterwards to other 
nations, in causing the light of bis gospel to shine upon them when 
they were in the darkness of sin and of death. This happy change 
was w r rought by the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose 
glory, divinity, and eternal kingdom, are here described in terms so 
clear and remarkable, and which can be applied to no other 

How solicitous should we be to answer the design of his gospel, and 
to have those illustrious prophecies of its own good effects fulfilled in 
us. Let us make it appear that we are Christians indeed, by the 
peaceableness and gentleness of our disposition, the softness and 
sweetness of our tempers! Let nothing malicious, revengeful, sour, 
contentions, or unkind, be ever found in us. Let us cultivate peace; 
labour to promote each other’s happiness; and in this, “ follow on to 
know T the Lord and by increasing in our acquaintance with him, 
who is love, be conformed to his image, and walk in love, even as 
Christ hath loved us. 

CHAP. CXXXI. 

Desolation of Babylon and Restoration of Israel predict¬ 
ed. From the thirteenth and fourteenth Chapters of 
Isaiah. 

The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz 
did see. Lift ye up a banner upon the higli mountain, 
exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may 
go into the gates of the nobles. 1 have commanded my 
sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for 
mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The 
noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great 
people $ a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations 

X 




254 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host 
of the battle. They come from a far country, from the 
end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his in¬ 
dignation, to destroy the whole land. 

Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand ; it shall 
come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore 
shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall 
melt: and they shall be afraid : pangs and sorrows shall 
take hold of them ; they shall be amazed one at another ; 
their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the 
Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to 
lay the land desolate : and he shall destroy the sinners 
thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the con¬ 
stellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun 
shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall 
not cause her light to shine. 

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of 
the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew 
Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, 
neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to genera¬ 
tion : neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there ; neither 
shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild 
beasts of the desert shall lie there ; and their houses shall 
be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, 
and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the 
islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons 
in their pleasant palaces : and her time is near to come, 
and her days shall not be prolonged. 

For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet 
choose Israel, and set them in their own land : and the 
strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave 
to the house of Jacob. And it shall come to pass in the 
day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, 
and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein 
thou wast made to serve, that thou shalt take up this 
proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, how hath 
the oppressor ceased ! the golden city ceased ! The Lord 
hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of 
the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a 
continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is 
persecuted, and none hindereth. 

The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break 
forth into singing. Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and 
the cedars of Lebanon, saying, since thou art laid down, 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


255 


v\o feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is 
moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming : it stirreth up 
the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; 
it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the 
nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, art thou 
also become weak as we ? art thou become like unto us ? 

Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise 
of thy viols : the worm is spread under thee, and the 
worms cover thee. 

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of 
the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground, 
which didst weaken the nations ! For thou hast said in 
thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my 
throne above the stars of God : I will sit also upon the 
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north : I 
will ascend above the heights of the clouds ; I will be like 
the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, 
to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly 
look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, is this the man 
that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms : 
That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the 
cities thereof ; that opened not the house of his prisoners ? 

All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in 
glory, everyone in his own house. But thou art cast out 
of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the rai¬ 
ment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, 
that go down to the stones of the pit ; as a carcase trod¬ 
den under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in 
burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain 
thy people : the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is the prediction concerning the appearance of the heavens ? 

-What is said of the desolation of Babylon ?-By what name 

is the king of Babylon called ?-What is said of the seed of evil¬ 

doers ? 


Practical Observations. 

The former part of this prophecy is one of the most beautiful ex¬ 
amples that can be given of elegance of composition, variety of 
imagery, and sublimity of sentiment and diction, in the prophetick 
style : and the latter part consists of an ode of singular excellence. 
As the Babylonians were to take Jerusalem, burn the temple, and 
carry the people into captivity, God, to give the Jews a right sense 
of this great event, and for their consolation, was pleased to declare 
long before hand, that the empire of the Babylonians should be de¬ 
stroyed. This prediction is very wonderful. Isaiah expressly de¬ 
clares, that Babylon should be taken«.at a time, and in a manner, 





256 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


which the Babylonians could not have foreseen ; that it should be 
utterly destroyed, and never recover from its ruins, but become a re¬ 
treat for wild beasts. Isaiah foretels this two hundred years before, 
when the Babylonish empire was in the most flourishing condition y 
at the end of which time Babylon was taken by the Medes and Per¬ 
sians, as we learn from the book of Daniel, and from profane history. 

The fall of Babylon, and its utter desolation, should be a warning 
to all nations. So Providence undoubtedly intended them to be. 
When we consider it as the greatest and most powerful monarchy in 
the world; the extent, strength, wealth, and grandeur of its capital; 
what little probability there was that it should ever be taken ; and es¬ 
pecially that it was predicted, so long before the event, that it should 
be utterly destroyed and left desolate ; who would not adore that 
spirit of prophecy which foretold it, and be afraid of the anger of 
the Almighty power that executed the vengeance 1 


CHAP. CXXXII. 


A Song of Praise to God for the Assurance and Manifest - 
aiion of his Mercy. From the twenty-fifth and twen¬ 
ty-sixth Chapters of Isaiah. B. C. 7 12. 

O Lord, thou art my God ; I will exalt thee, I will 
praise thy name ; for thou hast done wonderful things ; 
thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou 
hast made of a city an heap ; of a defenced city a ruin : 
a palace of strangers to be no city; it. shall never b» 
built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, 
the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou 
hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy 
in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from 
the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm 
against the wall. 

And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto 
all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the 
lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the 
lees well refined. And he will destroy in this moun¬ 
tain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the 
vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up 
death in victory ; and the Lord God will wipe away tears 
from off all faces ; and the rebuke of his people shall he 
take away from off all the earth : for the Lord hath 
spoken it. 

In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Ju¬ 
dah 5 we have a strong city; salvation will God appoint 
for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the 
righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. 
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
stayed on thee : becausehe trustethin thee. Trust ye in 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


357 

the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is ever¬ 
lasting strength. 

For he bringeth down them that dwell on hi<di • 
the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it Tow 
even to the ground, he bringeth it even to the dust. 

I lie way of the just is uprightness: thou, most up¬ 
right, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea, in the 
way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee ; 
the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remem- 
biance of thee. \Y ith my soul have I desired thee in the 
night £ yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee 
early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhab¬ 
itants of the world will learn righteousness. 

Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us : for thou also hast 
wrought all our works in us. O Lord our God, other 
lords besides thee have had dominion over us ; but by thee 
only will we make mention of thy name. They are 
dead, they shall not live ; they are deceased, they shall 
not rise : therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, 
and made all their memory to perish. Thou hast increas¬ 
ed the nation, O Lord, thou hadst increased the nation ; 
thou art glorified : thou hast removed it far unto all the 
ends of the earth. Lord, in trouble have they visited 
thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was 
upon them. 


QUESTIONS, 

What is said concerning the poor and needy ?-What promise 

is made concerning death ? -In what place was this song of praise 

to be sung ? 


Practical Observations. 

The praises and thanksgiving contained in this chapter relate, first, 
to the deliverance of the Jews, and their return from Babylon ; but 
they chiefly suit that great deliverance, which the Messiah was one 
day to procure for men, by redeeming them and purchasing salvation 
for them. We are chiefly to observe that these words of the prophet, 
u He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe 
away tears from off all faces will not be fully accomplished till 
death, our last enemy, shall be destroyed by the resurrection, and Jesus 
Christ shall introduce his sincere disciples into eternal glory. This 
expectation ought to produce in us a great desire to partake of these 
excellent promises, and be a powerful motive to us to bless the Lord 
who has promised them, and to rejoice continually in expectation of 
that salvation which shall be fully revealed at the second coming of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

X 2 




258 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. CXXXIII. 

Judah threatened for trusting in Egypt; hut is assured 

of returning Mercies and glorious 'rimes for the Church . 

From the thirtieth Chapter of Isaiah .— 1 $. C. 112 . 

Wo to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take 
counsel, but not of me ; and that cover with a covering* 
but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin : that 
walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my 
mouth ; to strengthen themselves in the strength of 
Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt ! There¬ 
fore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the 
trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. For the 
Egyptian shall help in vain, and to no purpose : there¬ 
fore have I cried concerning this, their strength is to sit 
still. 

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a 
book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever : 
that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children 
that will not hear the law of the Lord ; which say to 
the seers, see not ; and to the prophets, prophesy not 
unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, proph¬ 
esy deceits,: get you out of the way, turn aside out of 
the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from be¬ 
fore us. 

Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, because, 
ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and per¬ 
verseness, and stay thereon ; therefore this iniquity 
shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a 
high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 
For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel ; 
in returning and rest shall ye be saved ; in quietness and 
in confidence shall be your strength : and ye would not. 
But ye said, no $ for we will flee upon horses ; therefore 
shall ye flee ; and, we will ride upon the swift ; there¬ 
fore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand 
shall flee at the rebuke of” one ; at the rebuke of five 
shall ye flee ; till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a 
mountain, and as an ensign on a hill. 

And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gra¬ 
cious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he 
may have mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God of 
judgment : blessed are all they that wait for him. For 
the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem : thou shalt 
weep no more : he will be very gracious unto thee at the 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


£59 

voice of thy cry ; when he shall hear it he will answer thee* 
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, 
and the water of aflliction, yet shall not thy teachers be 
removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see 
thy teachers : and thine ears shall hear a word behind 
thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn 
to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 

Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt 
sow the ground withal ; and bread of the increase of the 
earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous : in that day shall 
thy cattle feed in large pastures. And there shail be 
upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, 
rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great 
slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover the light of 
the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of 
the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in 
the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his peo¬ 
ple, and healeth the stroke of their wound. 

Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burn¬ 
ing with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy : his 
lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring 
fire : and his breath as an overflowing stream, shall reach 
to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve 
of vanity. Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a 
holy solemnity is kept ; and gladness of heart, as when 
one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the 
Lord, to the mighty one of Israel. And the Lord shall 
cause his glorious voice to be beard, and shall show' the 
lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his 
anger, and with the flame of a devouring tire, with scab* 
tering, and tempest, and hail-stones. 


Practical Observations. 

Those possessions, connections, or dependencies, which prevent 
men from seeking help and happiness from God, will expose them 
to indignation and wo Our proneness to expect assistance or com¬ 
fort from creatures, shows that we are not duly sensible of the vanity 
and insufficiency, and of the all-sufficiency of God ; and that we do 
not believe, that he will fulfil both his promises and threatenings. But 
he will assuredly arise against the house of evil-doers, and against the 
help of those that work iniquity ; and they will all fall together under 
his outstretched arm. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will appear 
for the defence of his Church, and he will not be abased for the noise 
of those numbers who encourage each other against him ; but no 
emblems can fully express his terrible majesty and his tender mercy 
in caring for his people. Let sinners then take warning by the doom, 
and not follow the steps of them that perished in their sins ; let us 



260 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


give him our whole hearts, and renounce all our idols, and he will 
abundantly compensate all our losses. But terror and destruction 
pursue and will overtake all the ungodly ; and those dispensations 
and perfections of God, which ensure the satisfaction of believers, 
will consume all unbelievers with an everlasting destruction ! 

CHAP. CXXXIV. 

The Blessings of Christ’s Kingdom predicted. From the 

thirty-second and thirty-fifth Chapters of Isaiah. A. M. 

3282 —B. C. 720 . 

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and prin¬ 
ces shall rule in judgment. Andaman shall be as an 
hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the 
tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow 
of a great rock in a weary land. And the eyes of them 
that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear 
shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall under¬ 
stand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall 
be ready to speak plainly. The vile person shall be no more 
called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. For the 
vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work 
iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against 
the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry ; and he 
will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 

.The instruments also of the churl are evil : he devis- 
eth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, 
even when the needy speaketh right. But the liberal 
deviseth liberal things ; and by liberal things shall he 
stand. The Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high, 
and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful 
field be counted for a forest. Tnen judgment shall 
dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the 
fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall 
be peace ; and the effect of righteousness, quietness 
and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a 
peaceable habitation, and in sure dvvellings, and in quiet 
resting-places ; when it shall hail, coming down on the 
forest ; and the city shall be low in a low place. The 
wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; 
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It 
shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and 
singing : the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the 
excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory 
of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


261 

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear 
not : behold, your God will come with vengeance, even 
God with a recompense ; he will come and save you. 
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears 
of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame 
man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall 
sing : for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and 
streams in the desert. 

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the 
thirsty land springs of water ; in the habitation of drag¬ 
ons, where each lay, shall be grass w ith reeds and rushes. 
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall 
be called, the way of holiness ; the unclean shall not 
pass over it; but it shall be for those : the way-faring 
men, though fools, shall not err therein. And the ran¬ 
somed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with 
songs and everlasting joy upon their heads ; they shall 
obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee 
away. 


Practical Observations. 

The view here given us of the way of religion, should engage us 
to walk in it. It is the way of holiness, of universal rectitude, purity 
and goodness ; a safe, plain, and pleasant way ; there is no difficul¬ 
ty in finding it, no danger in walking in it. We meet there with the 
best company, and have God for our guardian and guide, our com¬ 
panion and friend. In this way then let us walk, and proceed there¬ 
in with vigor and cheerfulness ; and let us strengthen each other’s 
hands, and encourage each other’s hearts. This delightful road will 
at length bring us to the heavenly Zion, where sorrow and sighing, 
where sin, corruptions, and enemies shall be no more ; but upon ouv 
heads shall be everlasting joy, and in our mouths everlasting songs, 

CHAP. CXXXV. 

Sennache'rib invades Judah , and Hezekialds Prayer > 
From the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh Chapters of 
Isaiah. B. C. 720. 

And Rab'shakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in 
the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the 
great king, the king of Assyria. Thus saith the king, 
let not Hezekiah deceive you : for he shall not be able to 
deliver you. Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in 
the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us: this 
city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of' 
Assyria. Hearken not to Hezekiah : for thus saith the 



262 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a pres¬ 
ent, and come out to me : and eat ye every one of his 
vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every 
one the waters of his own cistern ; until I come and take 
you awav to a land like your own land, a land of corn 
and wine", a land of bread and vineyards. 

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you saying, The Lord 
will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations de¬ 
livered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria ? 
Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad ? where are 
the gods of Sepharva'im P and have they delivered Samaria 
out of my hand ? Who are they among all the gods of 
these lands, that have delivered their land out of my 
hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my 
hand ? But they held their peace, and answered him not 
a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying. 
Answer him not. 

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over 
the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joab, the son of 
Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, 
and told him the words of Rab'shakeh. x\nd it came to 
pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his 
clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went 
into the house of the Lord ; and prayed, saying, 

O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between 
the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all 
the kingdoms of the earth : thou hast made heaven and 
earth. Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear 5 open thine 
eyes, O Lord, and see : and hear all the words of Senna- 
che'rib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. Of a 
truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the 
nations, and their countries, and have cast their gods 
into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work 
of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they 
have destroyed them. Now, therefore, O Lord, cur 
God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the 
earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only. 

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, say¬ 
ing, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Whereas thou 
hast prayed to me against Sennache'rib king of Assyria : 
This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning 
him; whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed ; and 
against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up 
thine eyes on high ? even against the Holy One of Israel. 
Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up 
into mine ears, therefore will I turn thee back by the way 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


263 


by which thou earnest. For I will defend this city, to 
save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s 
sake. 

Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in 
the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and 
five thousand : and when they arose early in the morning, 
behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennache'rib de¬ 
parted, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house 
of Nisroch his god, that Adram'melech and Share'zer his 
sons smote him w ith the sword ; and they escaped into 
the land of Armenia : and E'sar-had'don his son reigned 
in his stead. 

QUESTIONS. 

What king of Assyria invaded Judah ?-Whom did he send to 

Hezekiah ?-What did Rab'shakeh say to the Jews ?-How was 

Hezekiah affected when he heard the words of Rab'shakeh ?-What 

measures did Hezekiah adopt for security ?- How t many of the 

Assyrian army did the angel destroy ?-What became of Senna- 

ehe'rib ? 


Practical Observations. 

Let us own our dependance upon God, and regard him as our only- 
defence and salvation in time of trouble, seeking him as Hezekiah 
did here, by devout prayers and supplications, and craving the assist¬ 
ance of his Church and ministry as this king did of the prophet Isaiah 
to obtain of him an answer of peace and love. But let not the day of 
rebuke and trouble be the only occasion of such addresses. Let us 
walk with God in our daily conversation, and maintain constant 
communion with him. Let us be sensible not only of our 
wants, but his mercies, and abound in thanksgivings as well as 
prayers. Let us be true to our part of the covenant of 
grace, and as duly observe the honour, pleasure, and will of 
God, as we hope for the benefit of his favour and protection. This 
will stir up his zeal for us, to be very nigh unto us, in all that we call 
upon him for. Of such seekers he will be easily found : to such wor¬ 
shippers he will show himself a most gracious and bountiful benefac¬ 
tor through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

CHAP. CXXXVI. 

Ji sublime Fepresentation of the Majesty of God , contrasted 
with the Insignificancy and Vanity of Man. From the 
fortieth Chapter of Isaiah. B. C. 708. 

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his 
hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and compre¬ 
hended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed 
the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance ? VV hd 
hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsel¬ 
lor hath taught him ? With whom took he counsel, and 








£64 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judg¬ 
ment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the 
way of understanding P Behold, the nations are as a drop 
of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the bal¬ 
ance : behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little 
thing. 

To whom then will ye liken God P or w hat likeness will 
ye compare unto him ? Have ye not known ? have ye not 
heard ? hath it not been told you from the beginning ? 
have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth ? 
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the 
inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers ; that stretcheth 
out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a 
tent to dwell in : that bringeth the princes to nothing $ he 
maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall 
not be planted ; yea, they shall not be sown : yea, their 
stock shall not take root in the earth 5 and he shall also 
blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirl¬ 
wind shall take them away as stubble. 

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal ? 
saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and be¬ 
hold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their 
host by number : he calleth them all by names, by the 
greatness of his might, for that he is strong in pow er : not 
one faileth. Why sayest thou, 0 Jacob, and speakest, 
O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judg¬ 
ment is passed over from my God ? 

Hast thou not known ? hast thou not heard, that the 
everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the 
earth, fainteth not, neither is weary ? there is no search¬ 
ing of his understanding. He giveth powder to the faint 5 
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young 
men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord 
shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with 
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary,* and 
they shall walk, and not faint. 


Practical Observations. 

It is good to think of the difference between the glory and power 
of man, and that of God. All the glory of man is soon blasted, his 
power weak, his wisdom soon confounded, his beauty fading, and his 
promises fail; but Jehovah is the all wise and Almighty God, 
faithful and true, and his word stands for ever. Let us imprint these 
thoughts upon our minds,that we may not be fond of the fading glories 
of this world ourselves, nor envy or admire them in others ; but make 






THE BlBLfCAL READER. 265 

God oar portion, and his word oar treasure ; it will be a source of 
everlasting security and joy. 

As we cannot comprehend the mysterious nature and the majesty 
ot the Lord our God ; let us learn to admire and adore those displays 
of his perfections, which are made in his works and in his word. 
Let us abase ourselves before Him, deeply sensible of our meanness as 
creatures, and our vileness as sinners ; and let us never presume to 
object to his appointments or decision, as if we were qualified to 
teach Him knowledge, before whom all nations are as nothing and 
vanity. 

CHAP. CXXXVII. 

m 1 • 

God’s Promise to Christ and to his People , and his 
Exhortation to remember his Goodness. From the 
forty-second , forty-third , and forty-fourth Chapters of 
Isaiah. B. C. 708. 

Beiiold my servant, whom I uphold ; mine elect, in 
whom my soul delighteth ; I have put my Spirit upon 
him : he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He 
shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard 
in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and 
the smoking flax shall he not quench : he shall bring 
forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be dis¬ 
couraged, till he have set judgment in the earth : and the 
isles shall wait for his law. 

Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, 
and stretched them out ; he that spread forth the earth, 
and that which cometh out of it ; he that giveth breath 
unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk 
therein : I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, 
and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give 
thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gen¬ 
tiles ; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners 
from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of 
the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name : 
and mv glory will I not give to another, neither my 
praise to graven images. 

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new 
things do I declare : before they spring forth I tell you 
of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise 
from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, 
and all that is therein ; the isles, and the inhabitants 
thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up 
their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit $ let the 
inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top 






rcuu 


1HE B1UL1UAL UMUJJ-H. 


of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, 
and declare his praise in the islands. 

I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all 
their herbs ; and I will make the livers islands, ami I 
will dry up the pools. And I will bring the blind by a 
way that they knew not; 1 will lead them in paths that 
they have not known : I will make darkness light before 
them, and crooked things straight. These things will I 
do unto them, and not forsake them. 

Thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and 
he that formed thee, O Israel, Lear not: for 1 have re¬ 
deemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ; thou art 
mine. I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather 
thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up ; 
and to the south, Keep not back : bring my sons from 
far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth ; even 
every one that is called by my name : for I have created 
him for my glory, 1 have formed him ; yea, I have made 
him. Remember these, O Jacob and Israel ; for thou art 
my servant: I have formed thee ; thou art my servant : 
O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have 
blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a 
cloud, thy sins : return unto me : for I have redeemed 
thee. Sing, O ye heavens ; for the Lord hath done it: 
shout, ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into sing¬ 
ing, ye mountains, O foiest, and every tree therein: for 
the Lord Lath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself 
in Israel. 

Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, and he that formed 
thee, I am the Lord that maketh all things ; that stretch- 
etli forth the haavens alone ; that spreadeth abroad the 
earth by myself: that confirmeth the word of his servant, 
and performeth the counsel of his messengers ; that saith 
to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited ; and to the cities 
of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the de¬ 
cayed places thereof: That saith to the deep, 13e dry, 
and I will dry up thy rivers : That saith of Cyrus, lie 
is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure : even 
saying to Jerusalem, Thou shall be built; and to the 
temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. 



r t , Practical Observations 

The* forgiveness of sin is that glorious act of grace, which in 
C.hrisg. and for him, was granted to all mankind ; and contains the 
sum and substance of the gospel, which proclaims a general pardon 

V*> » * : * J' • . »•/ • 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


26 7 

v ’ • " • * ' , • ". r * I - • 

to nil the world, oven unto all that return to God by a sincere, 
repentance, and faith in Christ. Clouds, especially thick clouds, ob¬ 
scure the face ot heaven, and hide from us the light and comfort of 
the sun : so sin interposed between God and man ; had robbed us of 
the light of heavenly truth, and overspread the whole world with 
darkness and horror, universal ignorance, and guilty fears. The 
coming ot Christ dispelled these gross clouds, and restored the light 
ot heaven; removed the thick veil of sin, and brought life and im¬ 
mortality to light through the gospel. For lie himselfis the life, the 
way, and the truth : he is “ the light which lighteth every man that 
cometh into the world:” and in his light only shall we see the light 
of divine truth. 

CHAP. CXXXVIII. 

Prediction of Christ being sent to the Gentiles. From the 
forty ninth Chapter of Isaiah. B. C. 706. 

Li sten, O isles, unto me ; and hearken, je people, 
from far : The Lord hath called me, and said unto me. 
Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorifi¬ 
ed. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent 
my strength for nought, and in vain; yet surely my judg¬ 
ment is with the Lord, and my work witli my God. 

And now, saith the Lord that formed me to be Ins ser¬ 
vant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not 
gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, 
and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a 
light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the 
tnbe3 of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I 
will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou 
mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. 

Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his 
Holy One, kings shall see and arise, princes also shall 
worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the 
Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. In an ac¬ 
ceptable time have l heard thee, and in a day of salvation 
have l helped thee : and I will preserve thee, and give 
thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, 
to cause to inherit the desolate heritages : that thou may¬ 
est say to the prisoners. Go forth; to them that are in 
darkness. Shew yourselves. They shall not hunger nor 
thirst, neither shall the heat nor sun smite them : and 
I will make all my mountains a way, and my high ways 
shall be exalted. Behold, these sliall come from far : 
and lo, these from the north and from the west; and 
these from the land of Sinitn. 


268 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Sing-, O heavens ; and be joyful, 0 earth ; and break 
forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath com¬ 
forted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. 
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my 
Lord hatli forgotten me. Can a woman forget her suck¬ 
ing child, that she should not have compassion on the son 
of her womb ? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget 
thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my 
hands: thy walls are continually before me. Thy chil¬ 
dren shall make haste ; thy destroyers and they that 
made thee waste shall go forth of thee. 

Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine 
hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the peo¬ 
ple : and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy 
daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And 
kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy 
nursing mothers : they shall bow down to thee with their 
face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet $ 
and thou shalt know that I am the Lord ; for they shall 
not be ashamed that wait for me. Even the captives of 
the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of tne terri¬ 
ble shall be delivered : for I w ill contend with him that 
contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. And 
all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and 
thy Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob. 


Practical Observations' 

What is said in this chapter, w r as in part fulfilled, when about two 
hundred years after these predictions, the Jews were called from the 
Babylonish captivity. God then displayed in a glorious manner, his 
power in the sight of all nations : he gathered them together in their 
own country, and caused them there to increase and multiply, and 
fylessed them exceedingly. But these promises more especially 
relate to the Christian Church. By faith, we may lift up our eyes, 
and behold multitudes from every land, gathering together to re¬ 
plenish and adorn the spiritual Jerusalem. We may behold the en¬ 
sign erected—hear the signal given-.-sons and daughters of the 
Church coming from the east and from the west, from the north and 
from the south—kings, and queens, and all the nobles of the earth, 
vying with each other, who shall show most honour to true godli¬ 
ness, and do most service to the cause of their divine Master. Let 
us then, as Christians, wait and pray for the performance of all these 
glorious prophecies, and, let us, especially, give diligence to make 
our own calling and election sure, and rejoice in the hope of the 
glory of God. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


269 








| 


CHAP. XXXIX. 

Jin Exhortation to trust in God , to believe in the Re¬ 
demption of Christ , to receive his Ministers , and to 
rejoice in . the Establishment of his Kingdom. From 
the fifty first and fifty-second Chapters of Isaiah. 
B. C. 706 . 


H earkf.x to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye 
that seek the Lord ; look unto the rock whence ye are 
hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 
For the Lord shall comfort Zion : he will comfort all her 
waste places : and he will make her wilderness like 
Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord ; joy 
and gladness shall he found therein, thanksgiving, and 
the voice of melody. 

Hearken unto me, my people ; and give ear unto me, 
0 my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I 
will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 
My righteousness is near ; my salvation is gone forth, 
and mine arms shall judge the people ; the isles shall 
wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. Lift 
up } r our eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth 
beneath : for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, 
and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they 
that dwell therein shall die in like manner : but my sal- 
vation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not 
be abolished. 

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the 
people in whose heart is my law ; fear ye not the re¬ 
proach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the 
worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness 
shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to 
generation. 

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; 
awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. 
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of 
the great deep ; that hath made the depths of the sea a 
•way for the ransomed to pass over P Therefore the re¬ 
deemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing 
unto Zion ; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: 
they shall obtain gladness and joy ; and sorrow and 
mourning shall flee away. i, even I, am he that com- 
forteth you : Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid 
of a man that shall die, and of tire son of man which shall 
fee made as grass } and forgettest the Lord thy maker, 








THE BIBLICAL READER* 


27tt 

that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foun¬ 
dations of the earth ? 

Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion ; put on 
thy beautiful garments, 0 Jerusalem, the holy city : 
shake thyself from the dust 5 arise, and sit down, 0 Je¬ 
rusalem : loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O cap¬ 
tive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have 
sold yourselves for nought : and ye shall be redeemed 
without money. For thus saith the Lord God, My peo¬ 
ple went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there ; 
and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now 
therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my peo¬ 
ple is taken away for nought ? they that rule over them 
make them to howl, saith the Lord ; and my name con¬ 
tinually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people 
shall know my name ; therefore they shall know in that 
day that I am he that doth speak : behold, it is I. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him 
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace ; that 
bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation ; 
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth 1 Thy watchmen 
shall lift up the voice ; with the voice together shall they 
sing, for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall 
bring again Zion. 

Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of 
Jerusalem : for the Lord hath comforted his people, he 
hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his 
holy arm in the eyes of all the nations : and all the ends 
of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 

Practical Observations. 

The promises of God should invigorate our efforts to obtain the 
pic posed blessings of the gospel; and to promote the puiity, peace, 
and enlargement of the Church, which they teach us to expect. 
Whilst we cull on the Lord to awake and put on strength, for our 
.help and salvation, we should attend to his exhortation to be faith¬ 
ful in the performance of our own duties. Let Christians do this_ 

let them be habitual in the cultivation of personal religion—let them 
become indeed a light to the world of mankind, and they may expect 
the fulfilment of many of the glorious promises of Scripture;—then 
the redeemed of the Lord shall be delivered from captivity, Zion 
shall resound with s«ngs of praise, and their gladness on earth shall 
form ^delightful foretaste of heavenly joys. 

I CHAP. CXL. 

The Sufferings of Christ foretold. From the fifty-third 
Chapter of Isaiah. B. C. 706. 

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the 
arm of the Lord revealed ? For he shall grow up before 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


271 


him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground : 
he hath no form nor comeliness ; and when we shall see 
him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He 
is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and 
acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces 
from him : he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sor¬ 
rows : yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, 
and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgress¬ 
ions, he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement 
of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes we are 
healed. All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have 
turned every one to his own way ; and the Lord hath 
laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, 
and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth : he is 
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before 
her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He 
was taken from prison and from judgment : and who shall 
declare his generation ? for he was cut off out of the land 
of the living : for the transgression of my people was he 
stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and 
w ith the rich in his death ; because he had done no vio¬ 
lence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it 
pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief: 
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall 
see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure 
of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of 
the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied : by his 
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for 
he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will 1 divide 
him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil 
with the strong : because he hath poured out his soul unto 
death : and he w^as. numbered with the transgressors; 
and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession lor 
the transgressors. 


Practical Ob serrations. 

Nothing con more clearly of more expressly represent the state of 
humiliation through which the Messiah was to pass, nor the state of 
exaltation and glory, than this admirable prophecy. The spirit of 
God here foretels, that the Messiah should appear in a mean condi¬ 
tion ; that, for this reason he should be despised and rejected by the 
Jews ; that he should take our sins upon him ; that he should by his 
death atone for them ; that he should be numbered with the trans¬ 
gressors ; and that he should be honourably interred after lus death. 
We see likewise described in this prophecy, the perfect innocence ot 
ouf Ltfrd, and his patience under all the injunes and affronts he re- 



272 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


ceivcd. Lastly, the prophet foretcls, that after the Messiah was 
made an offering for sin, he should seek Ins seed, he should prolong 
his days. The meaning of which is, that Ins deatli should be follow¬ 
ed by his resurrection, and exaltation to glory ; that he should gather 
together his Church ; that he would justify those who should believe 
in him, and would establish his kingdom in the world. X Ins proph¬ 
ecy, which presents us with a view of the principal circumstances 
of the passion of Jesus Christ, should fully convince us that he is tho 
"reat Redeemer spoken of by the prophets ; that his doctrine is true 
and divine ; that his sufferings and death arc the wonderful means by 
which God has been pleased to save men ; and that, being now ex¬ 
alted in glory, he is able to save all those who come unto God by him, 
and obey him. 1 


CHAP. CXLI. 

Invitations to receive the Blessings of the Gospel From 
the fifty-ffth Chapter of Isaiah . B. C. 706. 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, cotne ye to the waters, 
and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy, and eat : yea, 
come, buy wine and milk without money and without 
price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is 
not bread P and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? 
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is 
good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline 
your ear, and come unto me : hear, and your soul shall 
live $ and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 
even the sure mercies of David. 

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, 
a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou 
shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and na¬ 
tions that knew not thee shall run unto thee because 
of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for 
he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the Lord while he may 
be found, call ye upon him while he is near : let the wick¬ 
ed forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts : 
and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy 
upon him ; and to our God, for he will abundantly par¬ 
don. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are 
your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens 
are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than 
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as 
the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and 
returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh 
it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, 
and bread to the eater ; so shall my word be that goeth 
forth out of my mouth : it shall not return unto me void. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


273 

but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 
prosper in the thing whereto 1 sent it. For ye shall go 
out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains 
and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and 
all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead 
of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the 
brier shall come up the myrtle-tree : and it shall be to the 
Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be 
cut off. 


Practical Observations. 

The means of grace are often represented in Scripture, under the 
emblems of streams and springs of water ; and grace itself is describ¬ 
ed by the metaphor of meat and drink; it being of the same use to 
the soul, as meat and food are to the bod}'. As the one cleanses and 
refreshes, the other strengthens and feeds the body ; so these spiritual 
waters purify and refresh the soul: they are also as free as the natural, 
and may be had without money, and without price. All may freely 
drink of these springs, that have but a thirst to desire them : all are 
welcome to this food who please to accept of the invitation ; for so the 
great Ruler of this divine feast, the holy Jesus, explains and confirms 
this his messenger’s invitation, when he came in person to prepare 
the heavenly banquet; “ Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after 
righteousness, for they shall be filled.’’ And as here the prophet cries, 
“ Iio every one that thirsteth, come,” &c. so that beloved apostle tells 
us, “ The Spirit and the Bride say, Come ; and let him that hearcth, 
say, Come ; and let him that is athirst, come, and whosoever will, let 
him take the water of life freely.” 


CHAP. CXLII. 

Future Glories of the Church. From the sixtieth Chapter 

of Isaiah. B. C. 706. 

Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, anti the glory of 
the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness 
shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people : but 
the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen 
upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, 
and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lilt up thine 
eyes round about, and see : all they gather themselves 
together, they come to thee : thy sons shall come from 
far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. I hen 
thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall 
fear, and be enlarged ; because the abundance of the sea 
shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles 
shall come unto thee. 

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to 
their windows ? Surely the isles shall wait tor me, and 



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THE BIBLICAL READER. 


the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, 
their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the 
Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he 
hath glorified thee. And the sons of strangers shall build 
up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee ; for 
in my wrath 1 smote thee, but in my favour have I had 
mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates shall be open con¬ 
tinually ; they shall not be shut day nor night ; that men 
may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that 
their kings may be brought. For the nation and kingdom 
that will not serve thee shall perish ; yea, those nations 
shall be utterly wasted. 

The gloiy of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, 
the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place 
of my sanctuary; and 1 will make the place of my feet 
glorious. The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall 
come bending unto thee : and all they that despised thee 
shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and 
they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of 
the Holy One of Israel. Whereas thou hast been for¬ 
saken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will 
make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many genera¬ 
tions. And thou shalt know that I tli3 Lord am thy Sa¬ 
viour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. For 
brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, 
and for wood brass, and for stones iron : i will also make 
thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 

Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting 
nor destruction within thy borders ; but thou shalt call thy 
walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be 
no more thy light by day ; neither for brightness shall the 
moon give light unto thee : but the Lord shall be unto 
thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy 
sun shall no more go down ; neither shall thy moon with¬ 
draw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, 
and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Tiiy peo¬ 
ple also shall be all righteous : they shall inherit the land 
for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my 
hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become 
a thousand, and a small one a strong nation : I the Lord 
will hasten it in his time. 


Practical Observations. 

The whole earth, from the fall of Adam to the end of time, would 
have been covered with ignorance, error, wickedness, end misery, if 
the Son of God had not come a light into the world. This San of 




















THE BIBLICAL READER 


275 


righteousness communicated some heavenly light to mankind, even 
before be actually arose ; but bis bright beams have been diffused far 
more vigoiously and widely since that joyful event. Blessed be his 
name, they soil shine, with increasing splendour, to direct wnnderihg 
and lost sinners in the way to heaven. The gates of Zion are ever 
open to receive thesi wlio come with the desire of their hearts to be 
enrolled as her citizens ; the prayer of humble faith to Zion's God 
and King, can never be unseasonable, night or day ; and every true 
convert is an accession to the strength, beauty, and honour of Uiis 
spiritual dominion, at which angels in heaven will rejoice. 



CHAP. CXLIII. 


Offices of Christ and the desire of the Prophet to confirm 

the Church in the Promises of God From the sixty- 
first and sixty-second Chapters of Isaiah. B. C. 706. 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because the 
Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the 
meek : lie hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, 
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of 
the prison to them that are bound : to proclaim the ac¬ 
ceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of 
our God : to comfort all that mourn ; to appoint unto them 
that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes* 
the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the 
spirit of heaviness ; that they might be called trees of 
righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be 
glorified. 

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joy¬ 
ful in mv God : for he hath clothed me with the garments 
of salvation, lie hath covered me with the robe of right¬ 
eousness For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and 
as the garden causeth the tilings that are sown in it to 
Spring forth ; so the Lord God will cause righteousness 
and praise to spring forth before all the nations. 

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Je¬ 
rusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness 
thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof 
as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy 
righteousness, and all kings thy glory : and thou shalt 
be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord 
shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the 
hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the.hand of thy 
God. Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken ; neither 
shall thy land any more be termed Desolate : for the 
Lord delighteth in thee. 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


sre 

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, 0 Jerusalem, 
which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that 
make mention of the Lord keep not silence, and give 
him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem 
a praise in the earth. Go through, go through the 
gates ; prepare ye the way of the people ; cast up, cast 
up the highway $ gather out the stones ; lift up a stand¬ 
ard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed 
unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, 
Behold, thy salvation cometh ; behold, his reward is 
with him, and his work before him. And they shall call 
them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and 
thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. 


Practical Observations. 

The prophecy contained in the first part of this chapter relates to 
Jesus Christ, who is that great prophet that was anointed with the 
Spirit of the Lord, to preach the gospel to men, to proclaim libeity to 
the captives, and to publish the acceptable year of the Lord. But 
this same prophecy teaches us, that these valuable blessings are only 
reserved for the meek and humble ; for those that are broken-hearted 
for sin, and desire the grace of God. Tiiis must be the state of those 
who expect to share in the blessings which Jesus Christ has pur¬ 
chased for us, and in that joy which the Church shall experience 
when its Redeemer again cometh to judge the world.—Let us, then, 
welcome him into our hearts, and seek comfort and salvation through 
him. Let us remember that the great end of his mission, and minis¬ 
tration, and all the comforts which he bestows on his people, is, that 
we may be righteous ; trees of righteousness, bringing forth the fruit 
of it abundantly ; ornaments to the Church, and serviceable to all 
about them. 

CHAP. CXLIV, 

Expostulation with Judah , and .Exhortation to Repent¬ 
ance. From the second and thirteenth Chapters of 
Jeremiah. B. C. 628. 

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, say¬ 
ing, Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus 
saith the Lord ; I remember thee, the kindness of thy 
youth, the \ rve of thine espousals, when thou wentest 
after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 
Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first fruits of 
his increase : all that devour him shall offend : evil shall 
come upon them, saith the Lord. 

Wherefore I will yet. plead with you, saitli the Lord, 
and with your children’s children will 1 plead. Hath a 



Yhe biblical header. 


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nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods ? But 
my people have changed their glory for that which doth 
not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be 
horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saifch the Lord. 
For my people have committed two evils ; they have for¬ 
saken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them 
out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy 
backslidings shall reprove thee : know therefore and see 
that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken 
the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith 
the Lord God of hosts. As the thief is ashamed when 
he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed : they, 
their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their 
prophets, saying to a stock, thou art my father ; and to a 
stone, thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned 
their back unto me, and not their face : but in the time 
of their trouble they will say, arise, and save us. But 
where are thy gods that thou hast made thee P let them 
arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble : 
for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O 
Judah. Wherefore will ye plead with me ? ye all have 
transgressed against me, saith the Lord. In vain have I 
smitten your children ; they received no correction : 
your own sword hath devoured your prophets like a de¬ 
stroying lion. 

it p rnfi Hear ye, and give ear ; be not proud : 

for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to 
the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before 
your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while ye 
look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and 
.make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my 
soul shall weep in secret places for your pride ; and mine 
eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because 
the Lord’s Hock is carried away captive. 

Say unto the king and to the queen, humble yourselves, 
sit down : for your principalities shall come down, even 
the crown of your glory. The cities of the south shall 
be shut up, and none shall open them : Juimn shall be 
carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried 
! away captive. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the 
leopard his spots ? then may ye also do good, that are ac¬ 
customed to do evil. This is thy lot, the portion of thy 
measures from me, saith the Lord ; because thou hast 
forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 

Z 




278 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Practical Observations. 


In this prophecy God professes to retain the same kindness and 
favourable disposition towards Israel which he had manifested in their 
earlier days. He expostulated with them on their ungrateful returns 
for his past goodness ; and sheweth, that it was not want of affection 
in him, but their own extreme and unparalleled wickedness and 
disloyalty, which had already subjected, and would still subject them 
to calamities and misery. He concludes with a pathetic address, ex- 
liorting them to return to him, with an implied promise of accep¬ 
tance ; and laments the necessity he was under through their con¬ 
tinued obstinacy, of giving them further marks of his displeasure. 

Let otrr minds be impressed with the great difficulty of conquer¬ 
ing bad habits. It is a thing next to impossible. Hardly any princi¬ 
ples of religion, any motives, either of fear or shame, will work upon 
those who are accustomed to do evil. Fact and experience prove 
this. Let us be thankful if through the pious care of parents, and 
divine grace, we have never contracted them. Foung people should a- 
hove all things, guard against them ; and parents watch over their chil¬ 
dren to prevent them. Nothing is impossible to divine grace and 
power. Let those therefore w T ho are under the power of them, earn¬ 
estly strive and pray against them, and do it without delay, lest the 
disease should become incurable. 


CHAP. CXLV. 


Jeremiah sent to call the Jews to Repentance. From the 
seventh Chapter of the Book of Jeremiah. B. C. 606 . 

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, say¬ 
ing, Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim 
there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all 
ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the 
Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 
Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you 
to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, 
saying. The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, 
The temple of the Lord are these. 

For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings ; 
if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his 
neighbour ; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, 
and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this.place, 
neither walk after other gods to your hurt j then will I 
cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave 
to your fathers, for ever and ever. 

Thus saith the Lord ot hosts* the God of Israel : Put 
your burnt-offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. 
For I spake Hot unto your lathers, nor commanded them 
in the day that I brought them out of the land nf Egypt, 
‘concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices: but this thing 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


279 


commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be 
your God, and ye shall be my people : and walk ye in 
all the ways that I have commanded you, that it maj be 
'veil unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined 
their ear, but. walked in the counsels and in the imagina¬ 
tion of their evil heart, and went backward, and not for¬ 
ward. 

Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the 
land of Egypt, unto this day, 1 have even sent unto you 
all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and 
sending them. Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor in¬ 
clined their ear, but hardened their neck : they did worse 
than their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speak all these 
words unto them ; but they will not hearken to thee : 
thou shalt also call unto them 5 but they will not answer 
thee. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation 
that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor re- 
ceiveth correction : truth is perished, and is cut oft' from 
their mouth. 


Practical Observations. 

Nothing can avert the ruin of those who persist in disobedience ; 
and we understand the gospel as little as the Jews did the law, if we 
think that a notional belief and high confidence that we are the 
people of God, can avail those who persist in rebellion ; or that he 
will accept any particular actions or services, which are intended as 
compensation for continuing in the practice of some beloved iniquity. 
The way is indeed opened for the sinner to return, and when we are 
brought to obey the gospel, all former offences are pardoned, imper¬ 
fect services are accepted, the Lord becomes our God, and numbers 
us among his people. We learn to walk in his ways, and it is well 
with us; his gospel furnishes us with motives, encouragements, and 
assistance ; and his ordinances are means of grace to our souls. But 
he abhors external services when men continue to follow their own 
counsels, to walk after their own evil imaginations, and when they 
grow worse in tiie midst of opportunities of improvement. 

1 CHAP. CXLYI. 

Jeremiah's deep Lamentation over the wretched Condition 
of the Jews. From the eighth and ninth Chapters of 
the Book of Jeremiah. B. C. 606. 

When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my 
heart is faint in me, Behold the voice of the cry of the 
daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far 
country : Is not the Lord in Zion ? is not her king in 
her ? Why have they provoked me to anger with their 



Tftfe BIBLICAL reader. 


graven images, and with strange vanities ? The harvest' 
is past, the summer is ended* and we are not saved* For 
the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt ; I am 
black ; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no 
balm in Gilead ? is there no physician there ? Why then is 
not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ? 

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a foun-^ 
tain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the 
slain of the daughter of my people ! Oh that I had in the 
wilderness a lodging-place of way-faring men 5 that I 
might leave my people, and go from them I for they he 
all an assembly of treacherous men. And they bend 
their tongues like their bow for lies : but they are not 
valiant for the truth upon the earth \ for they proceed 
from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. 
Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye 
not in any brother : for every brother will utterly sup¬ 
plant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. 
And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will 
not speak the truth : they have taught their tongue to 
speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. 
Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit 
they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus 
saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and 
try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my peo¬ 
ple ? Their tongue speaketh deceit: one speaketh peace¬ 
ably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he lay- 
eth his wait. 

Shall I not visit them for these things r saith the Lord : 
shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this P For 
the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and 
for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, be¬ 
cause thejr are burned up, so that none can pass through 
them ; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle 5 both 
the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled ; they are 
gone. And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of 
dragons ; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, 
without an inhabitant. 

Who is the wise man, that may understand this ? and 
who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, 
that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is 
burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through ? 
And the Lord saith. Because they have forsaken my law 
which I set before them, and have riot obeyed my voice, 
neither walked therein, but have walked after the 
imagination of their own heart, and after Ba'alim, 




fil’BLlCAL HEADER. 


281 


Which their fathers taught them: therefore thus saith. 
the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel ; Behold, I 
will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and 
give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them 
also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fa¬ 
thers have known: and I will send a sword after them, 
till I have consumed them. 

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his 
wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let 
not the rich man glory in his riches : But let him that 
glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth. 
me, that 1 am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, 
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth : for in these; 
things I delight, saith the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

Let us all in good earnest make it our great business to serve God, 
to study to know his will, and to do it when we know it, and then we 
are safe. Let us be persuaded presently to forsake our sinful courses 
and entirely to resign up ourselves to the divine government, and then 
we shall be secure of the divine protection and special Providence 
over us. Then we may let loose the reins of our hope and confi¬ 
dence in God, and trust his gracious Providence as much as we can, 
and we shall never be confounded. God will lead us by a most gra¬ 
cious economy through this vale of tears, the whole course of our pil¬ 
grimage in this world ; directing us in all difficulties, comforting us 
in all sorrows and distresses, blessing all earthly enjoyments that he 
.gives us, and supplying the want of those that he thinks fit to deny us 
with greater blessings, and in the life to come he will pour out the 
full riches of his grace and goodness on us. 

CHAP. CXLVU. 

The Captivity of Judah predicted. From the seven - - 
teenth Chapter of Jeremiah. B. C. 605. 

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and 
with the point of a diamond : it is graven upon the table 
of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars ; whilst 
their children remember their altars and their groves by 
the green trees upon the high hills. 0 my mountain in 
the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures 
to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all 
thy borders. And thou, even thyself, shall discontinue 
from thine heritage that I gave thee ; and I will cause 
thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou know- 
est not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger which 
shall burn for ever. 



282 


the BIBLICAL AeADEIiv 


Thus saith the Lord ; Cursed be the man that trust"- 
eth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart 
departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath 
in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh $ but 
shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a 
salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that 
trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For 
he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that 
spread eth out her roots by the river, and shall not see 
when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green $ and shall 
not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease 
from yielding fruit. 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desper¬ 
ately wicked: who can know it ? I the Lord search the 
heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according 
to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place 
of our sanctuary. 0 Lord, the hope of Israel, all that 
forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from 
me shall be written in the earth, because they have for¬ 
saken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. Heal 
me, O Lord, and I shall be healed ; save me, and I shall 
be saved $ for thou art my praise. 

Thus saith the Lord unto me ; Go and stand in the 
gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of 
Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all 
the gates of Jerusalem ; and say unto them, Hear ye 
the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, 
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by 
these gates : Thus saith the Lord : Take heed to your¬ 
selves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring 
it in by the gates of Jerusalem j neither carry forth a 
burden out of your houses on the sabbath day; neither do 
ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I com¬ 
manded your fathers. But they obeyed not, neither in¬ 
clined their ear, but made their neck stiff*, that they 
might not hear, nor receive instruction. 

And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken 
unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through 
the gates of the city on the sabbath day, but hallow the 
sabbath day, to do no work therein ; then shall there 
enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting 
upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on 
horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


83£ 


ever. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the 
sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in 
at the gates ot Jerusalem on the sabbath day ; then will 
I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour 
the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. 


Practical Observations. 

Though men violate the commands of God without much reflec¬ 
tion ; yet every sin is marked in his hook as with an iron pen ; yea, 
they are all so graven upon the table of the heart, that they will be 
readily recognized by every man’s conscience in the great day of 
retribution. Indeed, conscience frequently now reproaches the 
transgressor with his crimes, when he will not yield to conviction, 
but, as much as possible, imposes silence on the friendly monitor, 
and rushes into further sins. What cause then have we to beg of 
God continually to search, and prove, and keep us, and not suffer us 
to be deceived by our own hearts ; and to create in us a clean and holy 
nature by his Spirit! How zealous should we be of ourselves, dis¬ 
trustful of ourselves, and suspicious of our own judgment in our own 
cause, or where our prejudices or interests are concerned ? How thank¬ 
ful should we be for restraints, (even by poverty, pain, or sickness) 
from acting out all that is in our hearts, to the misery and ruin, 
temporal and eternal, of ourselves and others ! How thankful should 
we be for the salvation of Christ ! and how patient under every trial 
that we meet with from the hand of God, or from the wicked¬ 
ness of our fellow sinners ! 


CHAP. CXLVIII. 

Exhortation to Obedience, Judgment upon Jehoiahim , 
and the Doom of Coni'ah, and others of David’s fam¬ 
ily. From the twenty-second Chapter of Jeremiah. 

B. C. 590. 

Thus saith the Lord ; Go down to the house of the 
king of Judah, and speak there this word, and say, Hear 
the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sittest upon 
the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy 
people that enter in by these gates : Thus saith the 
Lord ; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and de¬ 
liver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor : and 
do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the father¬ 
less, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this 
place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there 
enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the 
throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he and 
his servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear 
these words, saith the Lord, this house shall become a 
desolation* 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


284 

Wo unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteous¬ 
ness, and his chambers by wrong ; that useth his neigh¬ 
bour’s service without wages, and givetli him not for his 
work ; that saith, I will build me a wide house and large 
chambers, and cutteth him out windows ; and it is ceiled 
with cedar, and painted with vermilion. Shalt thou 
reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar ? Did not thy 
father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and 
then it was well with him ? He judged the cause of the 
poor and needy ; then it was well with him : Was not 
this to know me ? saith the Lord. But thine eyes and 
thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to 
shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, 
to do it. Therefore saith the Lord concerning Jehoia- 
kim the son of Josiah king of Judah ; They shall not 
lament for him, saying, Ah, my brother ! or, Ah, sister ! 
They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah, lord ! or, Ah, 
his glory ! He shall be drawn and cast forth beyond the 
gates of Jerusalem. 

As I live, saith the Lord, though Coni'ah the son of Je- 
hoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right 
hand, yet would I pluck thee thence ; and I will give 
thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the 
hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand 
of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand 
of the Chaldeans. And I will cast thee out, and thy 
mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye 
were not born ; and there shall ye die. But to the land 
whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not 
return. Is this man Coni'ah a despised broken idol P is 
he a vessel wherein is no pleasure ? wherefore are they 
cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which 
they know r not ? 0 earth, earth, earth, hear the word of 
the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man 
childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days $ for 
tio man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne 
of David, and ruling any more in Judah. 


Practical Observations. 

It is unspeakably more respectable and comfortable to have food 
and raiment, and other accommodations in a plain style, with hon¬ 
esty and piety, and to use hospitality, to be friendly to the poor, and 
to have an interest in their prayers; than to fare sumptuously, to 
lodge magnificently, to be surrounded with numerous servants and 
visitants, whilst extravagance puts an edge on rapacity, and the eyes 
and heart are only after covetousness, oppression, and other crimes, 
which luxury renders necessary. 



THE biblical reader. 


285' 


It is no improper reflection which may be drawn from the denim- 
ciations contained in this chapter, and from the subsequent accom¬ 
plishment of them, that if the crimes here threatened with special 
judgments, such as oppression and violence, fraud and extortion, 
covetousness and injustice, have destroyed the thrones and families 
of the mightiest prince's ; how shall sinners and oppressors of inferi¬ 
or quality expect to escape the punishments denounced against all 
such violations of the Divine law ? 




CHAP. CXLIX. 

f Jeremiah mourns over the Desolations of Jerusalem and 
the Miseries of its Inhabitants . From the first and sec- 
and Chapters of the Book of Lamentations. B. C. 588. 

How doth the city sit solitary* that was full of people ! 
how is she become as a widow 1 She that was great among 
the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she 
become tributary ! She weepeth sore in the night, and 
her tears are on her cheeks : all her friends have dealt 
treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.. 
Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and be¬ 
cause of great servitude : she dwelleth among the heath¬ 
en, she findeth no rest. 

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the 
solemn feasts : all her gates are desolate, her priests 
sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. 
From the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed. 
Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of 
her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the 
days of old. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned ; there¬ 
fore she is removed : all that honoured her despise her. 
She remembereth not her last end ; therefore she came 
down wonderfully : she had no comforter. 

Is it nothing to yon, all ye that pass by ? behold, and 
see if there be any sonow like unto my sorrow, which is 
done unto me, wherewith the Cord hath afflicted me in 
the day of his fierce anger ? He hath made me desolate 
and faint all the day. The yoke of my transgressions is 
bound by his hand : he hath made my strength to fall, 
the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom 
I am not able to rise up. For these things I weep : 
mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because 
the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me : 
my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. 

Behold, O Lord ; for I am in distress : mine heart is 
turned within me ; for I have grievously rebelled : abroad 
the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death. I hev 


286 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me : all 
mine enemies have heard of my trouble ; they are glad 
that thou hast done it. 

How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a 
cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth, 
the beauty of Israel ! The Lord was as an enemy : he hath 
swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces : 
he hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and 
lamentation. The Lord hath caused the solemn leasts 
and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised 
in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest. 
Her gates are sunk into the ground ; he hath destroyed 
and broken her bars : her king and her princes are among 
the Gentiles : the law is no more : her prophets also find 
no vision from the Lord. The elders of the daughter of 
Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence : they have 
cast up dust upon their heads ; they have girded them¬ 
selves with sackcloth : the virgins of Jerusalem hang 
down their heads to the ground. 

Mine eyes do fail with tears, for the destruction of the 
daughter of my people. What thing shall I take to wit¬ 
ness for thee ? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter 
of Jerusalem ? What shall I equal to thee, that I may 
comfort thee, O daughter of Zion ? for thy breach is great 
like the sea : who can heal thee P All that pass by clap 
their hands at thee ; they hiss and wag their head at the 
daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men 
call the Perfection of beauty, the Joy of the whole earth ? 

The Lord hath done that which he had devised ; he 
hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the 
days of old : he hath throw n down, and hath not pitied : 
and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he 
hath set up the horn of thine adversaries. Their heart 
cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let 
tears run down like a river day and night ; give thyself 
no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease. Arise, cry 
out in the night: in the beginning of the w r atches pour 
out thine heart like w r ater before the face of the Lord : 
lift up thy hands towards him for the life of thy young 
children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street. 

Behold, 0 Lord, and consider to whom thou hast done 
this. Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the 
sanctuary of the Lord ? The young and the old lie on 
the ground in the streets ; my virgins and my young men 
are fallen by the sword thou hast called as in a solemp 


"THE BIBLICAL READER. 


287 


flay my terrors round about, so that in the day of the 
Lord’s anger none escaped nor remained : those that I 
brought up, hath mine enemy consumed. 


Practical Observations. 

Call to mind the occasion of this elegy: Jerusalem besieged, 
wasted with famine, taken, pillaged, and laid in ruins : the stones 
thereof stained with the blood of her infants ; the glorious temple of 
Solomon demolished, and its sacred utensils borne off in triumph by 
an implacable enemy : the princes and nobles of Judah put to an ig¬ 
nominious death ; the virgin daughters of Jerusalem subjected to the 
unbridled appetite of a brutal soldiery: the flower of the nation led 
away captive into a foreign land: and there suffering all the buffet- 
ings and insults, all the contempt gnd mockery, of the basest 
servitude. / 

Call to mind also, that the writer of this divine piece was an eye¬ 
witness of those distressing scenes, and an eminent sufferer in that 
dreadful catastrophe ; and then read the artless, but exquisitely pa¬ 
thetic and moving description of the aforementioned events ; and if 
you have a heart that can “ feel another’s wo,” that heart must be 
touched and deeply affected. 

—i 

CHAP. CL. 

The Prophet bewails his Calamities , and acknowledges 
the Mercp of God and the Benefit of /Inflictions. From 
the third Chapter of the Book of Lamentations . 
B. C. 588. 

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his 
wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, 
but not into light. Surely against me is he turned : he 
turneth his hand against me all the day. He hath set me 
in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath 
hedged me about, that I cannot get out : he hath made 
my chain heavy. 

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 
He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the ar¬ 
row. He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter 
into my reins I was a derision to all my people : and 
their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitter¬ 
ness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 

And thou hast removed my soul far oft' from peace : I 
forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my 
hope is perished from the Lord : remembering mine afflic¬ 
tion and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My 
soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in 
me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 



-288 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, 
because his compassions fail not. They are new every 
morning : great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my por¬ 
tion, saith my soul ; therefore will I hope in him. 

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the 
soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both 
hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It 
is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 

lie si tie th alone, and keepeth silence, because he hath 
borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust ; 
if so be there may be hope. He giveth his cheek to him 
that smiteth him : he is tilled full with reproach. 

For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he 
cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the 
multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willing¬ 
ly nor grieve the children of mem To crush under his 
feet all the prisoners of the earth, to turn aside the right 
of a man before the face of the Most High, to subvert a 
man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. 

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the 
Lord commandeth it not P Out of the mouth of the most 
High proceedeth not evil and good ? Wherefore doth a 
living man complain, a man for the punishment of his 
sins P Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to 
the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto 
God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have 
rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. Thou hast covered 
with anger, and persecuted us : thou hast slain, thou hast 
not pitied. Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that 
our prayer shou ] d not pass through. Fear and a snare 
is come upon us, desolation and destruction. Mine eye 
runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of 
the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, 
and ceaseth not without any intermission, till the Lord 
look down, and behold from heaven. Mine eye affecteth 
mine heart, because of all the daughters of my city. 

1 called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dun¬ 
geon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at 
my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day 
that I called upon thee : thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, 
thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul $ thou hast re¬ 
deemed my life. 


Practical Observations. 

Happy shall we ah be, ii we so learn to receive affliction, consid¬ 
ering that it is laid upon us by the lmnd of God, as to extract good 
oiit of it. In or Oct to this, we must abase ourselves before him in 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


289 


the deepest humiliation ; and then, whatever reproach or injurious 
treatment we receive, we shall be conscious that we have no 
cause to complain whilst we have the nopes of his favour, and are 
thus made partakers of his holiness, This submission and depen- 
dance on God, must be safe and advantageous; for he will not cast 
off forever any who trust in him. Though he cause grief, he de- 
lighteth in mercy, and not in afflicting the children of men: and 
when he hath humbled and proved us, he will have compassion, ac¬ 
cording to the multitude of his mercies, and do us good at the latter 
end. 

Our troubles are all from him : and when our peace is made with 
him, all things will certainly work together for our good. Instead then 
of fretting and complaining when we suffer a small part of the pun¬ 
ishment due to our sins ; whilst continuance of life gives ground for 
hope, and time for prayer; we should employ ourselves in searching 
and trying our ways, in repenting of our sins and returning unto the 
Lord, and in lifting' up our hearts and prayers unto our heavenly 
Father. We should complain to him and not of him, and the repre¬ 
sentation of our sorrows should be always accompanied with humble 
confessions of our transgressions. 


•***G^9***= 

CHAP. CLL 

The Prophet deplores the Ruin of the City and Temple $ 
and the extreme Misery of the People, especially by Fam¬ 
ine ; and earnestly prays to God to return to Them in 
Mercy. From the fourth and fifth Chapters of Lamen¬ 
tations. —B. C. 588. 

How is the gold become dim ! how is the most fine 
gold changed ! the stones of the sanctuary are poured 
out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, 
comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earth¬ 
en pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter ! The 
tongue of the sucking child eleaveth to the roof of his 
mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no 
man breaketh it unto them. For the punishment of the 
iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the 
punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as 
in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Her Nazarites 
were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they 
were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing w as 
of sapphire : their visage is blacker than a coal ; they 
are not known in the streets : their skin eleaveth to their 
bones $ it is withered, it is become like a stick. 

They that be slain with the sword are better than they 
that be slain with hunger : fop these pine away, stricken 
through for want of the fruits of the field, The hands of 

A A 




290 THE BIBLICAL READER. 

the pitiful women have sodden their own children : they 
were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my 
people. 

Remember, 0 Lord, what is come upon us : consider, 
and behold our reproach. Our inheritance is turned to 
strangers, our houses to aliens. We are orphans and 
fatherless, our mothers are as widows. Our necks are 
under persecution : we labour and have no rest. Our 
fathers have sinned, and are not: and we have borne 
their iniquities. Servants have ruled oyer us : there is 
none that doth deliver us out of their hand. We gat our 
bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of 
the wilderness. Our skin was black like an oven because 
of the terrible famine. 

The joy of our heart is ceased ; our dance is turned 
into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head : wo 
unto us, that we have sinned ! For this our heart is faint 5 
for these thing 3 our eyes are dim. Because of the moun¬ 
tain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. 
Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever ; thy throne from gen¬ 
eration to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us 
for ever, and forsake us so long time ? Turn thou us 
unto thee, 0 Lord, and we shall be turned 5 renew our 
days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us ; thou 
art very wroth against us. 


Practical Observations. 

Various tribulations may make our hearts faint and our eyes dim : but 
our way to the mercy seat of Cod still is open ; and wo may beseech 
him not to forsake or forget us: and plead with him to turn, and re¬ 
new ns more and more by his grace ; that our hopes may revive and 
our consolations abound, as in the days of old. Let us then, in all our 
troubles, put our whole trust and confidence in his mercy; let us 
confess our sins, and pour out our hearts before him ; and let us watch 
against repinings, or despondency, whatever we suffer or witness of the 
troubles of our brethren ; for this we surely know, that it shall be 
well in the event with all who trust, fear, love, and serve the Lord. 

It is to observed, that though the Babylonians had reduced the Jews 
to their present deplorable condition, yet the prophet attributes all 
these misfortunes to God; and says, that, it was God himself who 
had cast off his people, and delivered his temple, his altars, and his 
city, into the hands of the idolaters. The enemies of the Jews could 
not have hurt them, if God had not withdrawn his protection from 
the people that he had chosen. God is the dispenser of afflictions to 
mankind: but in his Church particularly, nothing happens without 
his will. It is also to be considered, that, when God thus exposes 
liis Church to sufferings, he does not design to destroy it, but only t» 
reform and purify it by his corrections. And the same judgment 
tfHowld be passed on all evils which befai mea in this life. 



TIIE BIBLICAL READER. 


29 ^ 

r 

’ CHAP. CLII. 

The Parable of the Grapes , and God"s Justice and Right¬ 
eousness vindicated. From the eighteenth Chapter of 
Ezekiel. B. C. 593. 

The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, 
What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the 
land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour 
grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge ? As I 
live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any 
more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are 
mine ; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the 
son is mine : the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and 
right, and hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to 
the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath 
given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the 
naked with a garment ; he that hath not given forth 
upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath 
withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed 
true judgment between man and man, hath walked in 
my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly $ 
he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. 

Yet say ye, Why ? doth not the son bear the iniquity 
of the father P when the son hath done that which is 
lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath 
done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, 
it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the 
father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the 
son : the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon 
him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon 
him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that 
he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that 
which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not 
die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they 
shall not be mentioned unto him ; in his righteousness 
that he hath done, he shall live. Have I any pleasure at 
all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God : 
and not that he should return from his ways and live ? 

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteous¬ 
ness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all 
the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live ? 
All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be men¬ 
tioned : in his trespas , that he hath trespassed, and ia 
his sin that he ha h sir - ed, in them shall he die. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


9M 


Yet ye say, Tlie way of the Lord is not equal. Hear 
now, O house of Israel $ Is not my way equal ? are not 
your ways unequal ? When a righteous man turneth 
away from his righteousness* and committeth iniquity, 
and dieth in tiiem-—for his iniquity that he hath done 
shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth 
away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and 
doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his 
soul alive. 

Yet sailh the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is 
not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal ? 
are not your wavs unequal ? therefore 1 will judge you, 
O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith 
the Lord God. Repent and turn yourselves from all 
your transgressions 5 so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 
Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye 
have transgressed ; and make you a new heart and a new 
spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? For I have 
no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord 
God •, wherefore, turn yourselves, and live ye. 


Practical Observations. 

The chief intention ofthis chapter, is to show that God’s dealings 
With mankind, especially as to their condition in another life, would 
be regulated by the good or ill behaviour of each individual : it being 
the invariable rule of his providence, that punishment should follow 
guilt, and happiness be the reward of innocence. There was, it 
seems, a proverb, or common saying among the Jews, which implied 
a censure upon the justice of God, as if the calamities which befel 
the present generation were inflicted on them merely for the sins of 
their forefathers. God is pleased therefore to declare here, that however 
children may be involved, in respect to this world, in the consequence 
of their parents’ guilt, impartial justice would ever be the rule of his 
conduct: temporal death was the declared punishment of sin to 
every man ; and without repentance, eternal death would follow. 

The proper act of God is to call and invite us by his word and 
Holy Spirit, and then accept our endeavours when we turn to him. 
But this conversion must be total and sincere, it must he a turning from 
all—a casting away from us all our transgressions. This is our part i 
but to make a new heart, and a new spirit, is indeed quite out of the 
reach of nature ; it is the work of God alone ; and therefore most 
properly called by the Apostle, a new creation, and the new crea¬ 
ture ; it being such a thorough change of heart and principles as can 
be effected only by the same Divine power that created the world 
and raised Christ from the dead. But although it be done by the 
same Almighty power, it is not done after the same manner; by an 
. irresistible immediate act of omnipotence. It is made by means and 
motives, by the word and grace of God, man consenting and co-ope¬ 
rating therewith. Wherefore, though God is pleased to command 
us, to make us new hearts, and new spirits, it behoves us to refer that 



THE BIBLICAL READER; 293 

L •*' /*• 

whole work, as well as ascribe the whole glory of the change to him. 
When he bids us turn, let us, in an humble, a conscious sense of our 
weakness and insufficiency, say again, u Turn thou us, O Lord, and 
so shall we be turned.” 

CHAP. CLIII. 

God refuseth to consult the Elders of Israel; rehearses 
their rebellious Conduct $ and promises to gather them 
under the Gospel . From the twentieth Chapter of Eze¬ 
kiel. B. C. 594. 

And it eame to pass that certain of the elders of Israel 
came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. Then 
came the word of the Lord unto me, saying, Son of man, 
speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus 
saith the Lord God ; Are ye come to inquire of me ? As I 
live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by 
you. 

Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God : In the day 
when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the 
seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto 
them in the land of Egypt, saying, I am the Lord your 
God 5 in the day that 1 lifted up mine hand unto them, 
to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that 
I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, 
which is the glory of all lands ; then said I unto them, 
Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and 
defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the 
Lord your God. 

But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken 
unto me: they did not every man cast away the abomina¬ 
tions of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of 
Egypt : then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, 
to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the 
land of Egypt. But 1 wrought for my name’s sake, that 
it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom 
they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto 
them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. 

Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of 
Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I 
gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, 
which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover 
also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me 
and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that 
sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against 

A A 2 


‘294 


THE BJBLICAL READER. 


me in the wilderness : they walked not in my statutes* 
and they despised my judgments, which, it a man do, he 
shall even live in them ; and my sabbaths they greatly 
polluted : then I said, I would pour out my fury upon 
them in the wilderness, to consume them. But I wrought 
for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before 
the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. Mine 
eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I 
make an end of them in the wilderness. 

I said also unto their children in the wilderness, W alk 
ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their 
judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: I am 
the Lord your God ; walk in my statutes, and keep my 
judg ments, and do them : And hallow my sabbaths ; and 
they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may 
know that I am the Lord your God. Notwithstanding, 
the children rebelled against me : they w alked not in my 
statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which 
if a man do, he shall even live in them : they polluted my 
sabbaths : then, I said, I would pour out my fury upon 
them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilder¬ 
ness 5 that I might make them desolate, to the end that 
they might know that I am the Lord. 

Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, 
and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God : Yet in 
this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have 
committed a trespass against me. Wherefore say unto 
the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God : Are ye 
polluted after the manner of your fathers P For when ye 
offer your gifts ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, 
even unto this day : and shall I be inquired of by you, O 
house of Israel ? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will 
not be inquired of by you. 

Yet, saith the Lord God, I will bring you out from the 
people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein 
ye are scattered, and I will bring you into the wilderness 
of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 
Like as 1 pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the 
land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. 
I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I 
will purge out from among you them that transgress against 
me ; I will bring them forth out of the country where 
they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Is¬ 
rael : and ye shall know that 1 am the Lord. 

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God ; 
in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


29 5 , 


Israel, shall all the house of Israel, serve me i there will I 
accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and 
the first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring 
you out from the people, and gather you out of the coun¬ 
tries wherein ye have been scattered ; and I will be sanc¬ 
tified in you before the heathen. 

And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall 
bring you into the land of Israel, into the coun try for the 
which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. And 
there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings 
wherein ye have been defiled ; and ye shall loathe your¬ 
selves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have com¬ 
mitted. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when 
I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not accord¬ 
ing to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt 
doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God. 


Practical Observations. 

The threatenings which are pronounced against the Jews in this 
chapter should act as a warning to all w r lio read it. God had given 
them a law which was holy, just, and good ; but their disobedience 
and want of faith, converted into a curse what was intended for a 
blessing. On U6 also has God bestowed a still more valuable blessing, 
even the promise of redemption and sanctification through Christ Je¬ 
sus. But in order to attain this blessing, certain conditions must be 
fulfilled : we also must walk in his statutes, keep his judgments, and 
hallow his Sabbaths. If we examine our hearts and our lives, it will 
but too plainly appear how greatly we have failed in fulfilling our 
part of this holy covenant. Let us then earnestly entreat the Lord to 
pardon our innumerable transgressions, and to loathe ourselves in our 
own sight for all the evils that we have committed. So shall we es¬ 
cape tire heavy vengeance with which we are threatened, the mercy 
of God w T ill pardon our past backslidings, and our perseverance in a 
righteous cause will, through the mercies of our Redeemer, entitle us 
to a share in that heavenly Canaan, of which a land flowing with milk 
and honey gives but a faint resemblance. 


CHAP. LIV. 

The Prophet instructed in the Duties of his Office , as 
the Watchman of Israel; God showeth the Justice of 
his Waps towards the Penitent , and towards the Re¬ 
volt ers ; also the Hypocrisy of those who came to hear 
his Word without doing it. From the thirty-third 
Chapter of Ezekiel. B. C. 587. 

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say 
unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the 



£96 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set 
him for their watchman : if when he seeth the sword come 
upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the peo¬ 
ple ; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, 
and taketh not warning, if the sword come and take him. 
away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard 
the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning ; his 
blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning 
shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the 
sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be 
not warned ; if the sword come, and take any person 
from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity ; but 
his blood will 1 require at the watchman’s hand. 

So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman 
unto the house of Israel : therefore thou shalt hear the 
word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I 
say unto the wicked, 0 wicked man, thou shalt surely 
die ; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, 
that wicked man shall die in his iniquity but his blood 
will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn 
the wicked of his way to turn from it : if he do not turn 
from his way, he shall die in his iniquity \ but thou hast 
delivered thy soul. 

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the 
house of Israel ; Thus ye speak, saying, If our trans¬ 
gressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine 
away in them, how should we then live ? Say unto them, 
As I live, saitli the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the 
death of the wicked ; but that the wicked turn from his 
way and live ; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways ; for 
why will ye die, O house of Israel ? Therefore, thou son 
of man, say unto the children of thy people, The right¬ 
eousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day 
of his transgression : and as for the wickedness of the 
wicked, he shall not fail thereby in the day that he turn- 
eth from his wickedness. 

Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still 
are talking against thee by the w'alls and in the doors of 
the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his 
brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear^ what is the 
word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come 
unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee 
as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not 
do them : for with their mouth they show much love, but 
their heart goeth after their covetousness. And lo, thou 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


297 


&rt unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a 
pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for 
they hear thy words, but they do them not. 


Practical Observations. 

The comparison of a centinel, or watchman, whereby God rep re* 
sents the duties of Ezekiel’s office, shows witii what fidelity the pas* 
tors of the church ought to warn sinners, and labour with their utmost 
strength to recover them from the error of their ways, if they would 
not be responsible for the ruin of their souls; and it likewise proves, 
that if sinners do not amend when they are so warned, their destruc* 
tion will be just. We have here one ofthe most express declarations 
ofthe infinite mercy of God that is to be found in the whole Serip- 
tute God swears by himself, that he would not, by any means, wish 
the death ofthe wicked; that he desires nothing but their conversion 
and life, and receives them graciously, as soon as they return to him. 
The consideration of God’s great mercy should fill sinners with con¬ 
fidence and engage them to repent, and thereby prevent their ruin. 
Ezekiel teaches us, that God has no respect in his judgment, but to 
the, good and evil which every man-has done; and that as sinners 
who change their course of life shall obtain mercy, so likewise the 
righteous, if they forsake their righteousness, shall die in tiieir sin. 
What God says in so clear and express a manner on this head, sets 
his unbounded goodness towards men in a clear light, as well as his 
unspotted justice ; and this doctrine ought to stop the mouths of 
hardened sinners, and to inspire good men with wholesome fear. 

CHAP. CLV. 

The Rejection and Restoration of Israel r , and the Blessings 
of Christ’s Kingdom. From the thirty-sixth Chapter 
of Ezekiel. 13. C. 587. 

M oreover the word of the Lord came unto me, say¬ 
ing, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their 
own land, they detiled it by their own way and by their 
doings. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the 
blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their 
idols wherewith they had polluted it: and I scattered 
them among the heathen, and they were dispersed 
through the countries : according to their w'ay and accord¬ 
ing to their doings I judged them. And when they en¬ 
tered unto the heathen, whither they went, they pro¬ 
faned my holy name, when they said to them, These 
are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out ot his 
land. 

But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house ol 
Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they 
weflt. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus 




298 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


saith the Lord God ; I do 110 c this for your sakes, 0 house 
of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have 
profaned among the heathen whither ye went. And I 
will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among 
the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them ; 
and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the 
Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their 
eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and 
ather you out of all countries, and will bring you into 
your own land. 

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and 
ye shall be clean ; from all your filthiness, and 
from all your idols, will I cleanse yon. A new 
heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will 1 put 
within you : and I will take away the Stony heart out of 
your flesh, and I will Q*ive you an heart of flesh. And I 
will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my 
statutes, and ye shall keep mp judgments, and do them.- 
And ye shall dwell in the land that 1 gave to your 
fathers ; and ye shall be my people, end 1 will be your 
God. 


I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and 
I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no 
famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, 
and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no 
more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall 
ye remember your own evil ways, and vour doings that 
were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own 
sight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Not 
for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known 
unto you : be ashamed and confounded for your own 
ways, 0 house of Israel. 

Thus saith the Lord God ; In the day that I shall hav^ 
cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause 
you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be build- 
ed. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay 
desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they 
shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the 
garden of Eden ; and the waste and desolate and ruined 
cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the 


heathen that are left round about you shall know that I 
the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was 
desolate : I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. 

Thus saith the Lord God : 1 will yet for this be inquired 
•1 by the house ol Israel, to do it for them ; I will increase 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


299 


them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the 
flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts : so shall the waste 
cities be filled with frocks of men ; and they shall know 
that I am the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

The promise God here makes of restoring, protecting, and sancti¬ 
fying his people, is not confined to the deliverance of the Jews, and 
to the temporal Ijlessings vouchsafed them in their land after their 
return from Babylon : it agrees more especially to the spiiitual bless¬ 
ings that God was to bestow, first on the Jews, and afterward on all 
men, in the times of the Messiah ; and was accomplished by the 
coining of Jesus Christ, the sending of the Holy Ghost, and by the 
preaching of the Gospel. What we are chiefly to consider in these 
promises is, that the design of God in granting us these blessings, was 
to withdraw men from sins, to sanctify them, and to give them a new 
heart and a new spirit, that they might walk in his statutes, and keep 
his commandments. This then is what we ought chiefly to labour 
after; this is the end to which we should apply the mercies which 
God vouchsafes us by the new covenant, under which we have the 
happiness to live. 

# 

CHAP. CLVI. 

The Vision of the Resurrection of the Dry Bones of the 
Valley. From the thirty-seventh Chapter of EzekieL 
B. cf 586. 

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me 
out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the 
midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused 
me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there 
were very many in the open valley : and, lo, they were 
very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these 
bones live ? and 1 answered, O Lord God, thou 
knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophecy upon these 
bones, and say unto them, 0 ye dry bones, hear the 
word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these 
bones, Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and 
ye shall live; and I will lay sinews upon you, and will 
bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and 
put breath in you, and ye shall live ; and ye shall know 
that I am the Lord. 

So I prophesied as I was commanded : and as I prophe¬ 
sied there was a noise, and, behold, a shaking, and the 
bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I be¬ 
held, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, 
and the skin covered them above ; but there was no 




500 THE BIBLICAL READER. 

breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto 
the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, 
Thus saith the Lord God, Come from the four winds, 
O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may 
live. So I prophesied as he Commanded me, and the 
breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up 
upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the 
whole house of Israel : behold, they say, Our bones are 
dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut oft* for our parts. 
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the 
Lord God ; Behold, 0 my people, I will open your 
graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, 
and bring you into the land of Israel, And ye shall 
know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your 
graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your 
graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, 
and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye 
know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, 
saith the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

This vision of Ezekiel, in which God showed him dead bodies 
raised to life, tended to instruct the Jews, that though they w ere in a 
very deplorable condition, and there seemed to be no hopes of their 
recovery, yet God, by his infinite power, would infallibly deliver 
them. From whence we may gather, that nothing is impossible 
with God, and that he nevet wants means to accomplish his prom¬ 
ises. 'I his vision is likewise to be considered as a most express 
type of the general resurrection. Though our bodies are reduced to 
dust, God is able to give them life again, and reunite them to our 
souls; which he will infallibly do at the last day, as we are most 
clearly taught in the gospel. 

This vision should also comfort us when religion is at the lowest 
ebb, and circumstances are most discouraging. What was more unlike¬ 
ly than a resurrection of dry bones ? and what a more evident proof 
of divine power ? By that, therefore, God would represent the recov¬ 
ery of Israel; and thus can he raise dead souls to life. Ministers 
only prophesy to them; God must command the spirit of life to 
enter into them. He can raise his own cause w hen human wisdom 
piety, and zeal are sunk to their lowest point; if he exerts his own 
power, the most wonderful effects will be produced’ When there 
seems to be nothing but spiritual death upon his churches, lie can 
revive them; for all things are of God. The consideration of this 
should support our faith and hope, and animate our prayers that ha 
would revive his work in his own proper time, 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


301 

CHAP. CLVII. 

* iraculous Escape of Shadrach , Meshach, andMed-neeo 

J^ NE f B ^ CHA ^ lVE f ZAR the kin » made an image of gold, and 
1 e set it up in the province Sf Babylon. & Whfrefore at 
lut time certam Chaldeans came near, and accused the 

tVv n i/ he V pake5 and said t0 the king Nebuchadnez- 
/.a*, O king, live forever. Thou, O king, hast made a 
decree, that every man shall fall down and worship the 
go den image : and whoso falleth not down and worship¬ 
ped, that he should be cast into the midst of a burnin°- 
hery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast 

l 1 rV h t a ? aUS 116 P rovince Babylon, Sha- 
drach, Meshach and Abed-nego,- these men, 0 kin% 

have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor 
worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury command¬ 
ed to bring these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar 
spake and said unto them, Is it true, do not ye serve my 
gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up P 
feliaurach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said 
to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to 
answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom 
we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery fur¬ 
nace, and lie will deliver us out of thine hand, 0‘kin«-. 
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will 
not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which 
thou hast set up. 

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form 
of his visage was changed: therefore he spake, and com¬ 
manded that they should heat the furnace one seven times 
more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded 
the most mighty men that were in his army to cast them 
into the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the 
king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceed¬ 
ing hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and 
rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsel¬ 
lors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of 
the fire ? They answered and said unto the Juno-, True 
O king. He answered and said, Lo, 1 see four men loose,’ 
walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; 

B b < 






302 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the 
burning fiery furnace, and spake and said, ye servants of 
the most high God, come forth and conic hither. Then 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the 
midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and cap¬ 
tains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, 
saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, 
nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their 
coats changed. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, 
Blessed be God, who hath sent his angel, and delivered 
his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the 
king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not 
serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 
Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, 
and language, which speak any thing amiss against the 
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be cut 
in pieces : because there is no other God that can deliver 
after this sort. 

QUESTIONS. 

Of what were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego accused to Neb¬ 
uchadnezzar?-What did they reply to him ?-What was done 

with them ?-What induced him to have them released ?-What 

decree did the king then make? 


Practical Observations. 

The Lord can render every furnace of affliction, and the bed of 
death, nay, the rack or the flames, the scene of sweet communion be¬ 
twixt him and his people. Their sufferings only tend to loosen their 
bonds, and set them at liberty from sin and the world : they may be 
comfortable in any situation, by the manifested presence of the Son 
of God ; and this may be so evident, as even to fill their persecutors 
with astonishment and dismay. The Lord can convince the most 
proud that be is above them, and show them the madness and folly 
of their rebellion. He will effectually cause the wrath of man to turn 
to his praise, and restrain the remainder of it : be can extort adora¬ 
tion even from his enemies, and make all men see how wise, safe 
and happy they are, who adhere to his service in seasons of peculiar 
danger and difficulty. He can make those instrumental in 'Stoppin 0, 
the mouths of blasphemers, and in promoting the knowledge of his 
great name, who have no real love to him ; and he can render the 
sufferings of has people conducive to their temporal, as well as eternal 
good. “ O Lord <aod of hosts, blessed is the man who putteth his 
trust in thee ! tin ally, let us remember, that he who preserved 
these pious Jews in the fiery furnace, is able to uphold us in the hour 
of sharp temptation, to keep us from falling into sin, in the most un¬ 
favourable circumstances, and “ to present us faultless before the 
presence efbis glory with exceeding joy.” 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


303 


CHAP. CLVIII. 

Belshazzar's impious Feast ; and he is admonished of ap¬ 
proaching Ruin by a Miracle. From the fifth Chapter 
of Daniel. B. C. 538. 

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand 
of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Bel¬ 
shazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring 
the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchad¬ 
nezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusa¬ 
lem. Then they brought the golden vessels $ and the 
king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, 
drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods 
ol gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of 
stone. 

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, 
and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster 
ot the wall of the king’s palace : and the king saw the 
part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s counte¬ 
nance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so 
that his knees smote one against another. The king 
cried aloud, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoso¬ 
ever shall read this writing, and show me the interpreta¬ 
tion thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a 
chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler 
in the kingdom. Then came in all the king’s wise men : 
but they could not read the writing, nor make known to 
the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Bel¬ 
shazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was 
changed in him, and his lords were astonished. 

Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and 
his lords came into the banquet house : and the queen 
spake and said, O king, live for ever : let not thy thoughts 
trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed : there 
is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the 
holy gods ; and in the days of thy father light and under¬ 
standing and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was 
found in him : forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and 
knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, 
and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, 
were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named 
Belteshazzar : now let Daniel be called, and he will show 
the interpretation. 

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the 
king, spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


804 

which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom 
the king my lather brought out of Jewry ? I have even 
heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and 
that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is 
found in thee. Then Daniel answered and said, O thou 
king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father 
a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour : and for 
the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and lan¬ 
guages, trembled and feared before him. But when his 
heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he 
was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his 
glory from him ; and he was driven from the sons of men ; 
and his heart was made like the beasts, and they fed him 
with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew 
of heaven } till he knew that the most high God ruled in 
the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whom¬ 
soever lie will. And thou his son, 0 Belshazzar, hast 
not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this ; 
but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven ; and 
they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, 
and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, 
have drunk wine in them 5 and thou hast praised the gods 
of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, wdiicli 
see not, nor hear, nor know : and the God in whose hand 
thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not 
glorified. 

And this is the writing that was written, mene, mene, 
tekel, upharsin. This is the interpretation of the 
thing: mene ; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and fin¬ 
ished it. Tekel ; Thou art weighed in the balances, 
and art found wanting. Peres j Thy kingdom is di¬ 
vided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then com¬ 
manded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scar¬ 
let, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a 
proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third 
ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the 
king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median 
took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years 
old. 

QUESTIONS. 

11 hat is said in this chapter of the holy vessels taken from the tem¬ 
ple P-What took place at the feast to trouble the king ?-Who 

directed his attention to Daniel for an interpretation <jf the writing ? 
-What was the writing ?-What was tiie interpietation of it ? 

Practical Observations. 

Daniel reproached the king for not making a better use of the judg¬ 
ments with which God had chastised his grandfather Nebuchadnez- 









THfe BIBLICAL READER. 


305 


zar; for persisting in his pride, and setting himself against God, by 
pioLuimg the vessels of the temple of Jerusalem, and praising his 
idols instead of giving glory to God. This is a visible proof of the 
divine vengeance on those whose heart is lifted up with prosperity; 
on the profane and ungodly, who, instead of reverencing him from 
Wtiom they receive life, and breath, and tall things, have the insolence 
to exalt themselves against him ; and on thoseAvho do not improve 
the warnings he gives them, the afflictions he visits them with, nor 
the examples he sets before their eyes. Lastly, the death of Belshaz¬ 
zar, and ruin of the Babylonish empire which then passed to the 
Medes and Persians, is an event the most remarkable, as it had been 
foretold, not only by David, but by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other 
prophets, who had expressly declared that Babylon should be taken 
in the night, while the king and the princes were rejoicing, which is 
also confirmed by the writers of profane history. . 

CHAP. CLIX. 

Conspiracy against Daniel He is cast into the Den of 
Lions , but is delivered in Safety , while his Enemies 
are destroyed. From the sixth Chapter of Daniel. 
B. C. 537. 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred 
and twenty princes, which should be over the whole king¬ 
dom ; and over these, three presidents •, of whom Daniel 
was first, because an excellent spirit was in him j and 
the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occa¬ 
sion against Daniel concerning the kingdom ; but they 
could find none occasion nor fault ; forasmuch as he was 
faithful,'- neither was there any error or fault found in 
him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occa¬ 
sion against this Daniel, except we find it against him 
concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents 
and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus 
unto him, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents 
of the kingdom, the governors and the princes, the coun¬ 
sellors, and the captains, have consulted together to es¬ 
tablish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that 
■whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for 
thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into 
the den of lions. Wherefore king Darius signed the 
writing and the decree. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, 
he went into his house ; and his windows being open in 
his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his 
inees three times a day, and prayed f and gave thanks 

B b 2 



306 


THE BIBLICAL READER 


before his God, as he did aforetime; Then these meii 
assembled, and found Daniel praying and making sup¬ 
plication before his God. Then they came near, and. 
spake before the king concerning the king’s decree ; 
Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall 
ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, 
save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions ? 
The king answered and said. The thing is true, accord¬ 
ing to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alter- 
eth not. 

Then answered they and said before the king, That 
Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity ol 
Judah, regardeth not thee, 0 king, nor the decree that 
thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a 
day. When the king heard these words, he was sore 
displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to 
deliver him : and he laboured till the going down of the 
sun to deliver him. But these men said unto the king. 
Know, 0 king, that the law of the Medes and Persians 
is, That no decree nor statute which the king establish¬ 
ed may be changed. Then the king commanded, and 
they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. 
Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God 
whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the 
den ; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and 
with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might 
not be changed concerning Daniel. 

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night 
fasting: neither were instruments of music brought be¬ 
fore him : and his sleep went from him. Then the king 
arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto 
the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he 
cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel : and the kiny 
spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living 
God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to 
deliver thee from the lions r> Then said Daniel unto the 
king, O king, live foreveh My God hath sent his angel 
and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me : 
torasmuch as before him innocency was found in me j 
and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and com¬ 
manded that they should take Daniel up out of the 
den ; so Daniel was taken up out of the den, and 
no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he 
believed in his God. And the king commanded, and 











THE EIBLICAL READER. 


307 


they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and 
they cast them into the den of lions, them, their chil¬ 
dren, and their wives ; and the lions had the mastery of 
them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came 
at the bottom of the den. Moreover king Darius wrote 
unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in 
all the earth ; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a 
decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men 
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : for he is the 
living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that 
which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be 
even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, 
and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, 
who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in 
the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

QUESTIONS. 

IIow many princes did Darius set over the kingdom ?-Why 

did the presidents and princes conspire against Daniel ?-What 

decree did the king make ?-What did Daniel do, on knowing of 

this decree ?-What did the king say to him when he was cast into 

the den of lions P-What was done with, the accusers of Daniel ? 

—-—What decree did the king then make ? 


Practical Observations. 

The first thing to be observed in this chapter, is the dreadful con¬ 
sequence of envy and jealousy ; those who are guilty of them suffer 
grievously themselves from the indulgence of such malignant pas¬ 
sions, and are led by them to the commission of such sin as bring on 
their own ruin as well as that of others. Let us carefully guard 
against this horrid disposition, learning to be content with the con¬ 
dition in which God has placed us, and not grudging the superior 
advancement or happiness of otheis. Secondly, we may remark the 
goodness of God in rewarding the fidelity of his servants. In this 
chequered life we are liable to severe afflictions, and sometimes to 
cruel persecutions for righteousness’ sake. Let us, however, not be 
weary in well doing, nor faint under tribulations as those who have 
no hope ; but putting our whole confidence in God, let us patiently 
endure when we suffer wrongfully, and trust in his mercy to bring 
us out of the fiery furnace of affliction. 

CHAP. CLX, 

Daniel's Confession and Prayer , and the Time of Christ's 

Advent foretold. From the ninth Chapter of Daniel. 

B. C. 538. 

In the first year of Darius, which was made king over 
the realm of the Chaldeans, I Daniel set my face Junto 












303 


THE BIBLICAL READER*. 


the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with 
fasting, and sackcloth and ashes : and 1 prayed unto the 
Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O 
Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant 
and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep 
his commandments; we have sinned, and have commit¬ 
ted iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, 
even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judg¬ 
ments : neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the 
prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our prin¬ 
ces, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 
O L ord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us 
confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, 
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, 
that are near, and that are far olf, through all the coun¬ 
tries whither thou hast driven them, because of their tres¬ 
pass that they have trespassed against thee. To the 
Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though 
we have rebelled against him ; neither have we obeyed 
the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which 
he set before us by his servants the prophets. 

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by de¬ 
parting, that they might not obey thy voice ; therefore 
the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written 
in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have 
sinned against him. And he hath confirmed his words, 
which he spake against us, and against our judges that 
judged us by bringing upon us a great evil ; for under 
the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done 
upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, 
all this evil is come upon us : yet made we not our prayer 
before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our 
iniquities, and understand thy truth. 

0 Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech 
thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from 
thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain : because for our 
sins and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and 
thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 

Now therefore, 0 our God, hear the prayer of thy ser¬ 
vant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine 
upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 
0 my God, incline thine ear, and hear ; open thine eyes, 
and behold our desolations, and the city which is called 
by thy name : for we do not present our supplications 
before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mer- 



THE, BlfeLICAt REAlJEk. 


309 

cies. O Lord, hear; OLord, forgive ; 0 Lord* hearken 
and do ; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God : for 
thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 

And while I was speaking, arid praying, and confessing 
my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting 
my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy 
mountain ot my God ; yea, while I was speaking in pray* 
er, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision 
at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me 
about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed 
me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, 1 am now 
come forth to give thee skill and understanding. Seventy 
weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy 
city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of 
sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to 
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the 
Vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. 
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth 
of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem 
Unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and 
threescore and two weeks : the street shall be built again, 
and the wall, even in troublous times. And after three¬ 
score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for 
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come 
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary ; and the end 
thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the 
war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm 
the covenant with many for one week : and in the midst 
of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation 
to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations, he 
shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and 
that determined, shall be poured upon the desolate. 

Practical Observations. . 

Th is prophecy of the seventy weeks, is one of the most express 
prophecies in all the Old Testament : it clearly determines the time 
that was to pass between the decree for rebuilding Jerusalem, and the 
death of the Messiah. The angel who spake to Daniel says the time 
was to be four hundred and ninety years, to be reckoned from the 
decree made in favour of the Jews by Artaxerxes, surnamed Longi- 
manus. This prophecy expressly declares, that at the end of this 
term the Messiah should come; that he would make an atonement 
for sin by his death ; that he would establish and confirm the cove¬ 
nant of God with men ; and that afterwards the Romans should come 
and destroy the city and temple of Jerusalem. Ail these things have 
been exactly fulfilled at the time, and in. the manner foretold, as we 
are most certainly informed by history. Thus we have in this propl^ 





aio 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ecy an immoveable support of our faith, as it proves, beyond contra¬ 
diction, the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, and the truth of 
the Christian religion ; shewing, in the clearest manner, that Jesus is 
the promised Messiah, who lias redeemed us by his death ; and 
strongly engaging us to believe in him as our Saviour, and to submit 
to the doctrines which he preached. 

CHAP. CLXI. 

Gad's terrible Judgments; an Exhortation to Repent¬ 
ance ; a Fast prescribed; and Zion comforted with a 
Promise of f uture Blessing. From the second Chap¬ 
ter of Joel. B. C. 800. 

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in 
my holy mountain : let all the inhabitants of the land 
tremble: for the day of the Lord cotneth, for it is nigh at 
hand ; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of 
clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread 
upon the mountains : a great people and a strong ; there 
hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more 
after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire 
devoureth before them ; and behind them a flame burn¬ 
etii : the land is as the garden of Eden before them r 
and behind them a desolate wilderness •, yea, and noth¬ 
ing shall escape them. 

The appearance of them is as the appearance of 
horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the 
noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, 
like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, 
as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face 
the people shall be much pained: ail faces shall gather 
blackness. They shall run like mighty men ; they shall 
climb the wall like men of war $ and they shall march 
every one on his ways, and they shall not break their 
ranks. 

Neither shall one thrust another ; they shall walk 
every one in his path : and when they fall upon the 
sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to 
and fro in the city ; they shall run upon the wall ; they 
shall climb up upon the houses 5 they shall enter in at 
the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before 
them ? the heavens shall tremble : the sun and the moon 
shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining : 
And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army : lor 
his camp is very great : for he is strong that executeth 
his word : for the day of the Lord is great and very terri¬ 
ble 5 and who can abide it P 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


311 


Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to 
nie with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weep¬ 
ing, and with mourning : and rend your heart, and not 
your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God : for 
he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of 
great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who 
knoweth it he will return and repent, and leave a bless¬ 
ing behind him ; even a meat ottering and a drink-otter¬ 
ing unto the Lord your God ? 

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a sol¬ 
emn assembly : Gather the people, sanctify the congre¬ 
gation, assemble the elders, gather the children $ let the 
bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of 
her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, 
weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, 
Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to 
reproach, that the heathen, should rule over them : 
wherefore should they say among the people, Where is 
their God ? Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, 
and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say 
unto his people : 

Fear not, O land ; be glad and rejoice : for the Lord 
will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the 
field : for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the 
tree beareth her fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield 
their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and 
rejoice in die Lord your God : for he hath given you the 
former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down 
for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in 
the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, 
and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And ye 
shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name 
of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wonderously w ith 
you : and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye 
shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that 1 
am the Lord youi God, and none else : and my people 
shall never be ashamed. 

And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour 
out my spirit upon all flesh 5 and your sons and your 
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream 
dreams, your young men shall see visions : and also upon 
the servants and upon the handmaids in those days w ill I 
pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heav¬ 
ens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into 







312 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord 
come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall 
call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered : for in 
mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as 
the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord 
shall call. 


Practical Observations. 

The priests were directed to blow the trumpets at the temple ; and 
to alarm the people who assembled, with the prospect of the near 
approach of these judgments; that the report might thence be dif¬ 
fused throughout the whole land, and all the inhabitants might trem¬ 
ble at God’s word, and be induced to repent and deprecate his displeas¬ 
ure. If the approaching temporal judgments that were coming on 
Israel, required such an earnest exhortation to repentance, how much 
more should we be induced to fly from those eternal judgments which 
await the finallj' impenitent! 

Let us especially rejoice on the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, and 
pray that we may be partakers of iiis gracious influences. It was at 
first miraculously poured cut on the Apostles, and through them, 
on all the disciples, young and old, male and female, rich and poor ; 
and this contributed much to the spread and establishment of the 
gospel. W e also have encouragement to hope for the same Spirit, 
though not in so extraordinary a manner, if we call upon the name 
of the Lord with humble faith and in the practice of evangelical obe¬ 
dience. Even the servant snd handmaid may have a supply of this 
Spirit if they earnestly seek it. And by this shall we all be led to 
holiness here, and to complete and everlasting happiness in the new 
Jerusalem above. 

CHAP. CLXIL 

The Prophet Jonah directed to go and reprove Aiveveh ; 
through Fear he attempts going to Tarshish , but incon¬ 
sequence of his Disobedience is thrown into the Sea , and 
is swallowed by a Fish; his Prayer and Deliverance, 
From the first and second Chapters of Jonah. B. C. 862. 

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah, saying, 
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it ; 
for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah 
rose up to flee unto '1 arshish from the presence of the 
Lord, and went down to Joppa ; and he found a ship 
going to Tarshish : so he went dow n into it, to go withv 
them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 

But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and 
there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship 
was like to be broken. Then the mariners w ere afraid, 
and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the 
wares that w ere in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of 































*r -—* -• 




■ 




■ 

















































Jonah at JVineveh.,..j > vige 314. 








































































THE BIBLICAL READER, 


313 


them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of 
the ship ; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the. 
ship-master came to him, and said unto him, What 
meanest thou, 0 sleeper ? Arise, call upon thy God, 
if so be that God will think upon us, lhat we perish not. 

And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let 
us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil 
is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jo¬ 
nah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, 
for whose cause this evil is upon us. What is thine occu¬ 
pation P and whence comest thou ? What is thy country ? 
and of what people art thou ? And he said unto them, I 
am an Hebrew ; and 1 fear the Lord, the God of heaven, 
which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were 
the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why 
hast thou done this ? For the men knew that he fled 
from the presence of the Lord, because he had told 
them. 

Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, 
that the sea may be calm unto us ? for the sea wrought, 
and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take 
me up, and cast me forth into the sea ; so shall the sea 
be calm unto you ; for I know that for my sake this great 
tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard 
to bring it to the land ; but they could not : for the sea 
wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Where¬ 
fore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, 
O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this mail’s 
life, and lay not upon us innocent blood : for thou, O 
Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jo¬ 
nah, and cast him forth into the sea ; and the sea ceased 
from her raging. Then the men feared the Lord 
exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and 
made vows. 

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up 
Jonah. And Jonah was in the fish three days and three 
nights. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God. 
And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out 
Jonah upon the dry land. 

QUESTIONS. 

What was Jonah directed to do ? -Why did he decline doing it? 

—:—Where did he attempt going ? What was the cause of his at¬ 
tempting to go to Tarshish ?-What then becam° of him ?—*—Jfow 

long did he remain in the iish ? 

C 0 






314 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Practical Observations. 

How much need have we to guard our hearts, lest we disobey the 
commands of God. Jonah fled to avoid the execution of his orders, 
and terrible means were used to bring him back. His disobedience 
was indeed peculiarly inexcusable, considering his knowledge of 
God, the discoveries made to him, and the honour conferred upon 
him. The heathen sailors justly reproached him. Let us then rever¬ 
ence the authority of God, and cheerfully obey all his commands; 
not fearing any consequences while engaged in his work. 

From this chapter we may also infer the importance and necessity 
of prayer. Happy was it for Jonah that he had been used to this 
duty. We cannot be in any place where we are excluded from the 
mercy seat of God ; and shatp afflictions arc often sent to excite those 
to earnest cries for mercy, who were negligent in prosperity, and 
under the rebukes of his word. The hand of God should be ac¬ 
knowledged in all our troubles—a proper estimate should be formed 
of the greatness of our difficulties, and the urgency of our distresses ; 
in order that our faith may be fixed more simply upon the power of 
the Lord for deliverance, and that afterwards we may be duly sensi¬ 
ble of our obligations—and we should endeavour to attain a proper 
sense of the greatness of our guilt, that we may more value his mercy 
and salvation. 

CHAP. CLXIII. 

Jonah again sent to the Ninevites; and , upon their Re- 
pentance , God spareth them . From the third Chapter 

of Jonah . B. C. 862 . 

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second 
time, saying. Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, 
and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jo¬ 
nah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word 
of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great 
city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter 
into the city a day’s journey, and, he cried, and said, 
Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed 
a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them 
even to the least of them. For word came unto the king 
of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his 
robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat 
in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and pub¬ 
lished through Nineveh by the decree of the king and 
his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor 
flock, taste any thing : let them not feed, nor drink 
water : but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth* 
and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every¬ 
one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


315 


their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, 
and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not ? 
And God saw their works, that they turned from their 
evil way ; and God repented of the evil, that he had said 
that he would do unto them ; and he did it not. 

QUESTIONS. 

How many days’ journey was Nineveh ?-What did Jonah say 

to the inhabitants ?-What did they then do?-What was the 

consequence of their fasting and repentance ? 


Practical Observations. 

If idolaters, at the call of an Israelitish prophet, were thus ear¬ 
nest, fervent, prompt, self-denying, and humble in seeking mercy; 
how inexcusable will professed Christians be, who, notwithstanding 
all the warnings, instructions, invitations, and promises of Scripture, 
persist in unbelief, impenitence, self-indulgence, and procrastination ! 
But if God so readily pardoned the inhabitants of this great city, 
where it may be apprehended the greater part were only transiently 
impressed and partially reformed—how readily will he pardon the 
broken-hearted penitent, and the believing supplicant at his mercy 
seat! We may also here see the blessed effects of the resurrection cf 
Christ, and the consequent preaching of his Gospel, in the conversion 
and salvation of the Gentiles; and let Christians pray that this 
preaching and these effects may pervade the whole world. 


CHAP. CLXIV. 

The Majesty of God , his Love to his People , and his 
Severity to his Enemies. From the first Chapter of 
Nahum. B. C. 710 . 


The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision 
of Nahum. God is jealous, and the Lord reveng- 
eth ; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord 
will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth 
wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger, and 
great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked : 
the Lord hath his waj in the whirlwind and in the 
storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He 
rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up 
all the rivers : Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the 
dower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake 
at him, and tiie hills melt, and the earth is burned at his 
presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 

W ho can stand before his indignation ? and who can 
$biije in the fierceness of his anger ? His fury is poured 





sie 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him* 
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble f 
and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an 
over-running flood he will make an utter end of the place 
thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. What 
do ye imagine against the Lord ? He will make an utter 
end : affliction shall not rise up the second time. There 
is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the 
Lord, a wicked counsellor. 

Thus saith the Lord ; Though they be quiet, and like¬ 
wise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he 
shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will 
afflict thee no more. For now will I break his yoke from 
off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder. And the 
Lord hath jnven a commandment concerning; thee, that no 
more of thy name be sown : out of the house of thy gods 
will I cut oft’ the graven image and the molten image :fl 
will make thy grave : for thou art vile. Behold upon the 
mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that 
publisheth peace ! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, per¬ 
form thv vows ; for the wicked shall no more pass 
through thee } he is utterly cut oft*. 


Practical Observations. 

From the awful description which is here given of the power and 
wrath of this almighty and terrible Being, we should be led to rever¬ 
ence and adore him. Who can stand before his indignation ? When 
he determines to punish and destroy, what is great Nineveh, and the 
vast Assyrian empire ? What is any man, or kingdom, before him ? 
Let us stand in awe,, therefore, and not sin. But while we fear his 
power and justice, let us remember, that he is not revengeful and 
passionate, but Lord of his anger ; it is always under his control; 
and always just and right. His almighty power is continually 
employed for the security and supply of those that trust in him : his 
goodness shall never forsake his servants. 

CHAP. CLXV. 

Habakkuk prays God to revive his Work; commemo¬ 
rates the Displays of the divine Glory ; manifests how 
deeply affected he is by the Prospect of approaching 
Judgments ; but resolves to rejoice in God when all 
other Comforts failed. From the third Chapter of 
Habakkuk . B. C. 609. 

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. O Lord, I have 
heard thy speech and was afraid : 0 Lord, revive thy 
work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years 
make known : in wrath remember mercy. God came 












TftE BIBLICAL READER 


sir 

from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. 
His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of 
his praise. And his brightness was as the light ; he had 
horns coming out of his hand ; and there was the hiding 
of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burn¬ 
ing coals went forth at his feet. He stood, and measur¬ 
ed the earth : he beheld, and drove asunder the nations ; 
and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpet¬ 
ual hills did bow : his ways are everlasting, 

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction : and the curtains 
of the land of Midian did tremble. Was the Lord dis¬ 
pleased against the rivers ? was thine anger against the 
rivers ? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst 
ride upon thine horses, and thy chariots of salvation ? Thy 
bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the 
tribes, even thy word. Thou didst cleave the earth with 
rivers. The mountains saw thee, and they trembled : 
the overflowing of the water passed by : the deep uttered 
his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and 
moon stood still in their habitation : at the light of thine 
arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering 
spear. 

Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou 
didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou wentest forth 
for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with 
thine anointed ; thou woundest the head out of the house 
of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the 
neck. Thou didst strike through with his staves the head 
of his villages : they came out as a whirlwind to scatter 
me : their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, 
through the heap of great waters. When 1 heard, my 
lips quivered at the voice ; rottenness entered into my 
bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the 
day of trouble. When he cometh up unto the people, he 
will invade them with his troops. 

Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall 
fruit be in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and 
the fields shall > ield no meat; the flock shall be cut off 
from the fold, and th j re shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet 
I will rejoice in ihe .Lord, I will joy in the God of my sal¬ 
ivation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make 
my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk 
upon mine high places. 

• '€c.2 


318 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


Practical Observations. 

See of how much importance it is that we recollect and make familiar 
to our minds the perfections of God, and his appearances for his peo¬ 
ple. The prophet here reviews God’s ancient and wonderful works 
in favour of his people, and describes them in most sublime poetical 
language, to impress the hearts of his degenerate people. And it is 
proper that we should consider these things, that we may have a 
deep conviction of the providence and power of Jehovah ; that all na¬ 
ture and its elements are under his command ; that he can easily con¬ 
found all his enemies, and save his people in the most distressing cir¬ 
cumstances. He is God above all gods; let 113 learn to reverence* 
and adore him, who is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing 
wonders. When we recollect what God did for his ancient people, 
l* jiiould lead us to pray and hope that he will revive his work. Let 
us earnestly pray, that God would support religion ; that he would 
quicken the spirits of his faithful servants; comfort them under per¬ 
secution and oppression, and make them zealous in every good word' 
and work. 

CHAP. CLXVI. 

An Introduction to the History of Jesus Christ. From 
the first Chapter of St. John's Gospel. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was 
with God, and the Word was God. The same was in 
the beginning with God. All things were made by him ; 
and without him was not any thing made that was made. 
In him was life ; and the life was the light of men. And 
the light shineth in darkness $ and the darkness compre¬ 
hended it not. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was 
John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of 
the Light, that all men through him might believe. He 
was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that 
Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every 
man that cometh into the world. lie was in the world, 
and the world was made by him, and the world knew 
him not. He came unto his own, and his own received 
him not* But as many as received him, to them gave 
he power to become the sons of God, even to them that 
believe on his name : which were born, not of blood, nor 
of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of 
God. And the Word w r as made flesh, and dwelt among 
us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only 
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was 
he of whom I spake, He that cpmeth after me, is pre- 


the biblical reader. 


319 


ferretl before me ; for he was before me. And of his 
fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the 
law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by 
Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time ; the 
only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, 
he hath declared him. 


Practical Observations. 

We see that the end for which Christ came into the world, was, 
to be the light of the world, to enlighten mankind with the knowl¬ 
edge of God, and to purchase for them that receive him and believe 
in him, the right of becoming his children. Let us then 
admire and adore the infinite love and goodness of God in this as¬ 
tonishing condescension, that he who was one with the Father, and 
of the same divine nature with him, should stoop so low, as to as¬ 
sume our human nature, with all its weaknesses and infirmities, 
for us men and for our salvation. Let us contemplate the infinite 
power and unsearchable riches of divine wisdom in this transaction, 
that God should find out a way to reconcile sinners to himself, re¬ 
ceiving satisfaction in the same nature that offended ; by which 
means justice and mercy met together, and righteousness and peace 
have kissed each other. 

-**##•*•*- 

CHAP. CLXVII. 

Miracles attefiding the Birth of Jesus Christ . From the 

first Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel . 

There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a 
certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia : 
and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name 
was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before 
God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances 
of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, and they 
both were now well stricken in years. 

And it came to pass, that, while he executed the 
priest’s office before God in the order of his course, his 
lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of 
the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were 
praying without, at the time of incense. And there ap¬ 
peared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the 
right side of the alcar of incense. And ; when Zacharias 
saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But 
the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias : for thy 
prayer is heard ; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee 
a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou 
shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his 
Irirth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, 



350 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink ; and ike 
shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. And many of the 
children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I 
know this ? And the angel answering, said unto him, 
I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God : and 
am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad 
tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able 
to speak, until the day that these things shall be per¬ 
formed, because thou believeth not my words, which 
shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited 
for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in 
the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak 
unto them : and they perceived that he had seen a vision 
in the temple ; for he beckoned unto them, and remained 
speechless. And it came to pass, that as soon as the 
days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed 
to his own house. 

And in the sixth month [from that time,] the angel 
Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named 
Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name 
was Joseph, of the house of David ; and the virgin’s 
name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and 
said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is 
with thee : blessed art thou among women. And when 
she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in 
her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary : for 
thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt 
bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He 
shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; 
and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his 
father David. And he shall reign over the house of 
Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it 
unto me according to thy word. And the angel depart¬ 
ed from her. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify 
the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 
Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his 
handmaiden : for, behold, from hence forth all genera¬ 
tions shall call me blessed. 

Now Elisabeth brought forth a son. And her neigh¬ 
bours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed 
great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her : 
and they called him Zacharias, after the name of hi?? 



Annunciation ....Page 320, 


































































THE BIBLICAL READER. 


321 


father. And his mother answered and said, Not so 5 
but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, 

1 heie is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 

1 hen they made signs to his father, how he would have 
him called. And he asked for a writing table, and 
wrote, saying, llis name is John. And they marvelled 
all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his 
tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 

I hen fear came on all that dwelt round about them ; 
and all these sayings were noised abroiid throughout all 
the hill-country of Judea. And all they that had heard 
them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner 
ot Child this shall be ? And the hand of the Lord was 
with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the 
Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, lilessed be the 
Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed 
his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation 
for us, in the house of his servant David : as he spake by 
the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since 
the world began : that we should be saved from our ene¬ 
mies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perforin 
the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his 
holy covenant : the oath which he sware to our father 
Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being 
delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve 
him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before 
him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be 
called, The prophet of the Highest : for thou shalt go 
before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways ; to give 
knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission 
of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God ; 
whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to 
give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow 
of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

QUESTIONS 

Who was the king of Judea, when Zacharias was priest ?-What 

communication was made to him by an angel when he was burning in¬ 
cense ?-How long after that time did the angel appear to Mary ? 

--What miracle was wrought upon Zacharias to prove the truth of 

the angel’s declaration to him ?-When was lie released from being 

made dumb ? 


Practical Observations. 

Whilst we contemplate the peculiar honour that was conferred on 
the mother of our Lord, we should remember that angels rejoice 
over every sinner that repenteth ; they deem those highly favoured 
whose hearts Christ dwelleth by faith, and are ready to congratu- 







522 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


late each believer on so important a blessing. Happy indeed must 
they be, among the sons and daughters of Adam, to vvnom the Lord 
is graciously reconciled, and with whom he is present by Ins sanc¬ 
tifying Spirit. They may indeed be troubled and perplexed by many 
things which they read and hear ; and they can scarcely raise their 
hopes so high, as to expect the blessings intended for them ; but 
they shall, in due season, be raised above their fears, assured that 
they have found favour with God, as most nearly related to the 
Saviour of the world. Let us then rejoice in his personal and medi¬ 
atorial exaltation ; for he now reigns not only over the house of 
Jacob, but over angels, principalities, and powers in heavenly 
places, as the Son of God and the son of David. JL e t us seek to be, 
and to approve ourselves, the subjects of his kingdom, of which there 
shall he no end: and if we meet with sufferings in the way to the 
full enjoyment of our privileges and felicity ; let us remember how 
Jesus was abased, impoverished, reproached, rejected and crucified, 
before he entered into his glory. 

-***©©«•»«- 

CHAP. CLXVIIL 

Birth of Jesus Christ; the Angels announce it to the 

Shepherds; his Circumcision , and Presentation in the 

Temple . From the second Chapter of Luke . A. M. 

4001. 

And it came to pass in those days, that there 
went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all 
the world should be taxed ; and all went to be tax¬ 
ed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also 
went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 
Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethle¬ 
hem 5 (because he was of the house and lineage of Da- 
yid,) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife. And so 
it was, that while they were there, she brought forth her 
first-born Son, and wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and 
laid him in a manger •, because there was no room for 
them in the inn. 

And there w ere in the same country shepherds abiding in 
the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, 
the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of 
the Lord shone round about them ; and they were sore 
afraid. And the angel said unto them. Fear not: for be¬ 
hold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be 
to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city 
of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And 
this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the Babe 
wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. And 
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 
heavenly host praising God, and saying. Glory to God in 
the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. 







THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


323 


Anti it came to pass, as the angels were gone away 
from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. 
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing 
which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known 
unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary 
and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when 
they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying 
which was told them concerning this Child. And all they 
that heard it, wondered at those things which were told 
them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, 
and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds re¬ 
turned, glorifying and praising God for all the things 
that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 

And when eight days were accomplished for the cir¬ 
cumcising of the Child, his name was called JESUS, 
which was so named of the angel. And when the days 
according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they 
brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 5 
and behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name 
was Simeon ; and the same man was just and devout, 
waiting for the Consolation of Israel : and the Holy 
Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by 
the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he 
had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit 
into the temple ; and when the parents brought in the 
Child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 
then took lie him up in his arms, and blessed God, and 
said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, 
according to thy word ; for mine eyes have seen thy sal¬ 
vation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all 
people ; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of 
thy people Israel. 

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things 
which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, 
and said unto Mary Ids mother, Behold, this Child is set 
for the fall and rising again of many in Israel •, and for a 
sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall 
pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of 
many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, 
a prophetess, and she was a widow of about fourscore and 
four years, which departed not from the temple, but serv¬ 
ed God with fastings and prayers night and day. And 
she coming in at that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the 
Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for re¬ 
demption in Jerusalem* 


324 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


QUESTIONS. 

• What caused Joseph and Mary to go into the city of David ? ■ ■ — 

How was the birth of Christ made known to the shepherds ? -When 

was he brought to Jerusalem ?-Who took him into his arms and 

blessed Joseph and Mary ? 


Practical Observations. 

Our blessed Lord brought “ peace on earth,” not only in a spiritual 
sense, bv reconciling man to his offended Maker, and thus imparting 
to him true content, and peace, and satisfaction of mind, but also 
in a temporal sense. That benevolence of disposition, and gentle¬ 
ness of behaviour, which he so constantly and so warmly recommend¬ 
ed, both by his doctrine and by his example, were entirely calculated 
to promote the peace and harmony of mankind, and to knit them 
together in one common bond of love and affection. If ever peace 
was made visible in outward form, it was in the person of our blessed 
Lord. His whole life and conversation was one uniform representa¬ 
tion of it, insomuch that it might even in this sense be affirmed of 
him, that “ of his peace there was no end.” 

CHAP. CLNIX. 

71 ie Eastern Magi are directed to Christ; Joseph with 
Jesus and his Mother go into Egypt ; Herod destroys 
the young Children—his Death; Christ is brought 
back again to Nazareth. From the second Chapter of 
Matthew. 

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in 
the days of Herod the king, behold, there catne wise men 
from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is 
born king of the Jews ? tor we have seen his star in the 
east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the 
king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all 
Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the 
chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demand¬ 
ed of them where Christ should be born. And they said 
unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written 
by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, 
art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of 
thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people 
Israel. 

lhen Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, 
inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search 
diligently for the young Child : and when ye have found 
him, bring me word again, that I may come and w orship 
him also. W hen they had heard the king, they depart- 








*HE BIBLICAL READER. 


323 


ed ; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went 
before them, till it came and stood over where the young 
Child w’as. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with 
exceeding great joy. 

And when they were come into the house, they saw the 
young Child with Mary his mother, and fell clown and 
worshipped him : and when they had opened their treas¬ 
ures, they presented unto him gifts ; gold, and frank¬ 
incense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in 
a dream that they should not return to Herod, they de¬ 
parted into their own country another way. And when 
they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord 
appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take 
the young Child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and 
be thou there until I bring thee word ; for Herod will 
seek the young Child to destroy him. When he arose, 
he took the young Child and his mother by night, and 
departed into Egypt : and was there until the death of 
Herod : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of 
the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I 
called my son. 

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the 
wise, men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and 
slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all 
the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, accord¬ 
ing to the time which he had diligently inquired of the 
Avise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by 
Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice 
heard, lamentation, and weeping, arid great mourning, 
Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be com¬ 
forted, because they are not. But when Herod was 
dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream 
to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young 
! Child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for 
they are dead which sought the young Child’s life. And 
he arose, and took the young Child and his mother, and 
came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that 
Archela'us did reign in Judea in the room of his father 
Herod, he was afraid to go thither : notwithstanding, 
being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into 
the parts of Galilee ; and he came and dwelt in a city 
called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was 
spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. 

D d 






326 


the biblical reader. 


QUESTIONS. 

Who came to Herod and inquired where Jesus was born?-By 

what means were they directed to Christ ?-What did they do on 

finding him?-What method did Herod adopt to destroy Christ ? 

-How was his escape effected?-Why did lie dwell in Naza¬ 
reth ? 


Practical Observations. 

The homage which these wise men of the east paid to the Child Je¬ 
sus, falling down before him, and presenting unto him their gilts, 
should excite us, who know he is our Lord and our Saviour, to wor¬ 
ship him, love and praise him, and to devote to him all that is in our 
power. We see in the behaviour of Herod towards the wise men, 
and in the massacre which he made of the children of Bethlehem, 
the craft and cruelty of that prince, who neglected no possible means 
to destroy the Child Jesus : and thus was our Lord exposed, even 
from his birth, to great perils ; which showed, from the very first, 
that his kingdom was not of this world, and that he was born to suf¬ 
fer. We likewise see that God, by the warning which he gave to 
the wise men, and afterward to Joseph, defeated Herod’s designs; 
and that all the measures which that unjust and cruel prince had 
taken to destroy Jesus, as effectual as he thought them, and as they 
appeared to be, could not procure our Lord’s death, nor prevent his 
returning into Judea, where he afterward exercised his ministry. 
All these events may convince us that Providence did direct, in a par¬ 
ticular manner, all that happened to Jesus Christ, and that the ut¬ 
most endeavours of men can never hinder the execution of what God 
has purposed, nor hurt those whom he protects. 


CIIAP. CLXX. 

Jesus goes to the Passover at Jerusalem , when he is 
twelve years old. From the second Chapter of St. 
Luke. A. D. 8. 

And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled 
with wisdom : and the grace of God was upon him. 
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the 
least ot the passover. And when he was twelve years 
old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the 
feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they re¬ 
turned, the Child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem ; and 
Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they sup¬ 
posing him to have been in the company, went a day’s 
journey ; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and 
acquaintance, and when they found him not, they turn¬ 
ed back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came 
, to pass, that after three days they found him in the tem¬ 
ple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing 
them, and asking them questions. And all that heard 
him were astonished at Ids understanding and answers. 
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his 








i'HE BfBLICAL READER. 


3 9.7 


Mother Said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with 
us r behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me ? 
wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business ? 
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto 
them. And he went down with them, and came to Naz¬ 
areth, and was subject unto‘them : but his mother kept 
all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in 
wisdom and staiure, and in favour with God and man. 

QUESTIONS. 

How often did the parents of Jesus go to the temple ?-At 

what age did he go ?-With what disappointment did they meet 

on leaving the temple P-How was he employed when they found 

him ?-What did he say to them ? 


Practical Observations. 

We are informed that the ordinances and temple of God were 
the chief delight of Jesus; and that in Jerusalem nothing so 
much attracted his attention, as the instructions of the publit k 
teachers of the divine law. These things we ought to deeito 
most worthy of our regard: in these we should find our chief sat¬ 
isfaction; thus young persons should employ their early days, seek¬ 
ing the knowledge of divine truth, attending on the ministry of the 
Gospel, proposing such inquiries to their seniors and instructors, ay- 
may tend to the increase of knowledge ; and studying to be able 
with pertinency and propriety to answer such questions as may l.e 
put to them. From the earliest youth, every one should deem li e 
service of God his great business : and the glory of his name and the 
duty owing to him, must be allowed a pre-eminence, even above that 
of children to their parents, and must be attended to, even when it in¬ 
terferes with their inclination and satisfaction. In all things else the 
blessed Saviour hath left an example to young persons, of unreserved 
subjection, not only to their own parents, but even to those who are 
by any means intrusted with a kind of parental authority; and he 
hath also taught them patient industry and contentment in a mean 
condition. These, when connected with piety and humility, a e 
proper evidences of an increase of true wisdom, and of having 
obtained favour with God: and they have a tendency to render 
the possessor dear to his fellow creatures also ; especially <o those 
who most deserve estimation, and whose friendship is a privilege. 
Let us then endeavour to keep the sayings of Jesus in our heaits, and 
to transcribe iris example in our lives. 

CHAP. CLXXI. 

The Life and Ministry of John the Baptist. From the 
third Chapter of St. Luke and the third and fourteenth 
Chapters of St. Matthew. 

And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, 
and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto 
Israel. 











328 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


. Now in the fifteenth year of Tiberias 

a n'ofi °‘ Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of 

A. JJ. Lb. j ut j ea ^ t i, e wor d of God came to John, the 

son of Zecharias, in the wilderness. And he came into 
all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of 
repentance for the remission ot sins ; as it is written in 
the book of the words ot Esaias the Prophet, saying, The 
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the 
way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley 
shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be 
brought low. And the crooked shall be made straight, 
and the rough ways shall be made smooth ; and all flesh 
shall see the salvation of God. 

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, 
and a leathern girdle about his loins ; and his meat was 
locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusa¬ 
lem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jor¬ 
dan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their 
sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sad- 
ducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O gener¬ 
ation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee front the 
wrath to come ? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for re¬ 
pentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We 
have Abraham to our father : for I say unto you, that God 
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees : 
therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit 
is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do 
then r He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath 
two coats, let him impart to him that hath none: and he 
that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also 
publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, 
what shall we do P And he said unto them. Exact no 
more than that which is appointed you. And the sol¬ 
diers likewise demanded of him, saying. And what shall 
we do ? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, 
neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your 
wages. 

And as the people were in expectation, and all men 
mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, 
or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed 
baptize you with water ; but One mightier than I cometh, 
the latchet of whose shoes I am not w orthy to unloose : 
he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire ; 




the biblical reader. 


329 


vrlrose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his 
floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner ; but the 
chaft he will burn with fire unquenchable. 

I hen cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, 
to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I 
have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ? 
And Jesus answering, said unto him. Sutler it to be so 
for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. 


now 


Then he sufFered him. And Jesus, when he was bap¬ 
tized, went up straightway out of the water *, and lo, the 
heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of 
God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 


And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved 
Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

A M 4031 And man y ot h er things in his exborta- 
A n or * ti° n > preached he unto the people. But 
Herod the tetrarch had laid hold on John, 
and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, 
his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is 
not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would 
have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because 
they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod’s 
birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced be¬ 
fore them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised 
with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, 
Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. 

And the king was sorry : nevertheless for the oath’s 
sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he command¬ 
ed it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John 
in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, 
and given to the damsel : and she brought it to her moth¬ 
er. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and 
buried it, and went and told Jesus. 


questions. 

Who was governor of Judea, when John began his ministry ?-- 

Where did he baptize ?--What miracle was wrought when Jesus 

was baptized by John ?-For what was John put in prison P- 

How came lie to be put to death ? 


Practical Observations. 

What an exalted idea docs it give us of the dignity and importance 
X)f the great Founder of our religion, that he should have such a fore¬ 
runner and harbinger as John to proclaim his approach to the world, 
and call upon mankind to attend to him. It was a distinction pecu¬ 
liar and appropriate to him. Neither Moses nor any of the prophet? 

Dx>2 




330 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


h;id this mark ofhonour. It was reserved for the Seri of God, the 
Messiah, the Redeemer of mankind, and was well suited to the tian- 
scendent dignity of his person and the grandeur ol his design. 

From the preaching of John the Baptist, we may learn, that re¬ 
pentance and holiness of life, is a qualification without which no one^ 
can be the disciple of Jesus Christ, nor enter into the kingdom ol 
God. It likewise informs us, that as the unbelieving Jews vainly 
boasted they were the children of Abraham, it is no advantage to hyp¬ 
ocrites to be externally in covenant with God; that Jesus Christ 
knows them, and that he will one day cleanse his Church by casting 
the wicked into everlasting punishment, and by receiving the true 
believers into his heavenly kingdom. 

-* 4 ««* 

CHAP. CLXXII. 

John’s Testimony concerning Jesus , in Reply to the In¬ 
quiries of the Priests and Levites ; and Christ's Conver¬ 
sation whith Nathanael. From the first Chapter of 
John's Gospel. 

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent 
priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, Who art 
thou ? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I 
am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then ? Art 
thou Elias ? and he saith, I am not. Art thou that proph¬ 
et? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, 
Who art thou ? that we may give an answer to them that 
sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am 
the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight 
the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 
And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest 
thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither 
that prophet ? John answered them, saying, I baptize 
with water : but there standeth one among you w hom ve 
know not : he it is, who. coming after me," is preferred 
before me, whose shoes latchct 1 am not worthy to un¬ 
loose. These things were done in Bethab'ara beyond 
Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

The next day John seevh Jesus coming unto him, and 
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, after 
me cometli a Man which is preferred bt fore me ; for he 
was before me. And I knew him not : but that he 
should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come 
baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, 
I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and 
it abode upon him. And i knew him not: but he that 



the: biblical reader. 33! 

stent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, 
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending; and 
remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with 
the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record, that this 
is the Son of God. 

Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his 
disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he 
saith, Behold the Lamb of God ! And the two disciples 
heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus 
turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, 
What seek ye ? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is 
to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou ? 
He saith unto them. Come and see. 'J hey came and 
saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day : for 
it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard 
John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon 
Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother 
Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias ; 
which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought 
him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, 
Thou art Simon, the son of Jona: thou shalt be called 
Cephas : which is, by interpretation, a stone. 

The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, 
and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now 
Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and 
Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, 
We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the 
prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing 
come out of Nazareth ? Philip saith unto him, Come and 
see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of 
him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile ! Na¬ 
thanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me ? Jesus 
answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called 
thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. 
Nathanael answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art 
the Son of God ; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus an¬ 
swered and said unto him. Because I said unto thee, I 
saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou ? Thou shalt 
see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see 
heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and de¬ 
scending upon the Son cl Man. 



TH£ BIBLICAL READEfe 


S$2 


QUESTIONS. 

What did the piiests and Levites ask John?-What did the 

two disciples who heard Jesus speak say unto him ?-What did 

Philip say to Nathanael ?-What was Nathanael’s reply ?-Whaf 

did Jesus first say to Nathanael ? 


Practical Observations. 

Behold an Isrealitc indeed , in whom is no guile ! A man truly 
pious and conscientious, will consider that guile is not more odious 
in the esteem of men, that it is abominable in the sight of God, and 
must be one day accounted for before the high and awful tribunal. 
While he reflects hereupon, and at the same time loves his own soul, 
he will be sensible that it is not only his duty, but his real and last¬ 
ing interest, to act always a just, and equal, and generous part with 
all mankind. He will see good reason for loving his neighbor in like 
manner as he loves himself, and so of course will be inclined to deal 
with others, as he desires to be dealt with. He will be true and 
faithful in all measures, whether transacted in secret, or in face of 
the sun. He will take no unfair advantages of the weakness of one, 
or of the ignorance of another, or of the necessities of a third, or of 
any other unhappy circumstances or contingencies. He will be 
equal and impartial in all his dealings, though it were towards an 
idiot, or an infant, or any thoughtless, helpless person, as well as 
towards the sharpest, and shrewdest, and greatest, of whose capacities 
or resentments he may stand in awe ; and that, because he consid¬ 
ers Almighty God as infinitely more discerning and powerful than 
all ; and that it is to him, we must give an account of our dealings 
with our fellow creatures. No artifices, no colouring can be of anj r 
avail in God’s sight : for God is not mocked : he sees into the inmo3t 
recesses of the mind, and searches even the reins and the heart. This 
consideration strikes at the very root of all guilt and treachery, when 
nothing else will. 

f CHAP. CLXXIII, 

The Temptation of Jesus. From the fourth Chapter of 
Matthew. A. M. 4031—A. D. 27. 

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness 
to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted 
forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an 
hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, 
If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be 
made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, 
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word 
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the 
devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him 
on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou 
be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written. 
He shall give his angels charge concerning thee : and in 
their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


333 

dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is 
written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high 
mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, 
and the glory of them, and saith unto him, All these 
things, will 1 give thee, if thou wilt fall down and 
worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee 
hence, Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt worship the 
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the 
devil leaveth him, and behold angels came and minister¬ 
ed unto him. 

QUESTIONS. 

Whore was Jesus taken to be tempted P-How long did ho fast ? 

* What did satan first say to him ?-What did he say to him 

when on the pinnacle *01’ the temple ?-And when on the high 

mountain ? 


Practical Observations. 

If may be observed in general upon the history of the temptation, 
that the design of the devil in tempting our Lord, was to try 
whether Jesus was the Son of God ; and that it pleased God to 
suffer this temptation, that the devil, convinced of that truth, might 
reverence the power of Jesus Christ; and that it might appear, that 
our Lord was come into the world to destroy the kingdom of Satan. 
Let it also be considered, that if Jesus Christ himself was tempted, 
we should not be surprised if we also are exposed to various tempta¬ 
tions ; and that we ought, in imitation of our Lord, to resist tempta¬ 
tions, and particularly such as might lead us into distrust or pre¬ 
sumption, or make us grow fond of the honours or riches of this 
world; or lastly , such as may tend to draw us off from the true ser¬ 
vice of God, and from that allegiance we owe him. The method 
which Christ made use of to repel the temptation of satan, by 
quoting the holy Scriptures, and thus quench all the fiery darts of the 
wicked one, we ought also to adopt. 

CHAP. CLXXIV. 

The Marriage Feast at Cana ; and Jesus goes to Jerusa* 
lem at the Passover , and casts the traders out of the 
Temple. From the second Chapter of John. 

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana ot 
Galilee ; and the mother of Jesus was there. And both 
Jesus was called, and his disciples to the marriage. And 
when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto 
him, they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, 
what have I to do with thee ? mine hour is not yet come. 
His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith 









334 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 

unto you, ilo it. And there were set there six water-pots 
of stone, after the manner of the purifying ol the Jews, 
containing two or three firkins apiece. 

Jesus saith unto them, fill the water-pots with water. 
And they filled them up (o the brim. And he saith unto 
them, draw out now and bear unto the governor of the 
feast. And they bare it. When the ruler ot the feast 
had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not 
whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water 
knew,) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 
and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set 
forth good wine ; and when men have well drunk, then 
that which is worse : but thou hast kept the good wine until 
now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of 
Galilee, and manifested forth his glory ; and his disci¬ 
ples believed on him. 

After this he went down to Capernaum, he and his 
mother, and his brethren, and his disciples ; and they 
continued there not many days. 

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went 
up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold 
oxen and sheep, arid doves, and the changers of money, 
sitting : and when he had made a scourge of small cords, 
he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and 
the oxen ; and poured out the changers’ money, and over¬ 
threw the tables ; and said unto them that sold doves, 
take these things hence : make not my Father’s house an 
house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered 
that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten 
me up. 

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, What 
sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these 
things P Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy 
this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then 
said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in 
building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 13 ut he 
spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was 
risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had 
said this unto them : and they believed the scripture, and 
the word which Jesus had said. Now when he was in 
Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believ¬ 
ed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he 
knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of 
man : for he knew what was in man. 











Christ and the Samaritan Woman ....Page 337. 












































































































THE BIBLICAL READER. 


335 


QUESTIONS. 

What miracle did Jesus perform at the marriage at Cana ?-On 

what occasion, is it mentioned in this chapter that he went to Jerusa¬ 
lem ?-What did he do at the temple ?-What reply did lie make 

to tlie Jews who asked him to show them a sign P 


Practical Observations. 

The miracle that Christ wrought, by changing water into wine at 

[ the marriage of Cana, has this remarkable circumstance, that it was 
his first miracle, and that he began by that to show his divine power 
and calling, in the presence of the blessed virgin his mother, of his 
disciples, and several other persons, which caused his fame to be spread 
throughout Galilee, and his disciples to believe on him. For the 
same reason, when he came to Jerusalem, he drove out of the temple 
those who bought and sold there. He did the same there years after, 
a little before his death. Christ acting thus in the temple, which he 
called his Father’s house, w T as pleased to give proof, at the very begin¬ 
ning of his ministry of his divine authority, and of his great zeal; which 
was taken notice of by the apostle, who applied to them these words, 
li The zeal of thy lrouse hath eaten me up.” It is also to be observed, 
that the Jews required of Christ some proofs of his authority ; where¬ 
upon he told them, u Destroy this temple, and I will build it again in 
three days.” By which he meant, that the strongest proofs he could 
give of his receiving his authority from God, w r as, that he would rise 
from the dead the third day : but he spoke in figurative and dark 
terms ; it not being proper, as yet, to speak more plainly concerning 
Jiis death and resurrection. 

CHAP. CLXXV. 

Christ's Discourses with Nicodemus. From the third 
Chapter of St, John's Gospel. A. M. 4031—A. 1). 27. 

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, 
a ruler of the Jews : the same came to Jesus by night, 
and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a 
teacher come from God : for no man can do these mira¬ 
cles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus an¬ 
swered and said unto him, Verily, ver ly, I say unto 
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the 
kingdom of God. 

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be 
born wdien he is old ? Jesus answered, Verily, ver¬ 
ily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, 
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of 
God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh ; and that 
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that 
I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind 
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound 









336 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither 
it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nic- 
©tlemus answered and said unto him, How can these 
things be ? 

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master 
oflsiael, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify 
that we have seen ; and ye receive not our witness. If 
I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how 
shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things ? And no 
man hath ascended up to heaven, ,but he that came down 
from heaven, even the Son of Man w hich is in heaven. 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up : that w hoso¬ 
ever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal 
life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-be¬ 
gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not 
perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his 
fcon into the w orld to condemn the world, but that the 
world through him might be saved. 

lie that believeth on him, is not condemned : but he 
that believeth not, is condemned already, because he 
hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son 
of God. Aud this is the condemnation, that light is come 
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, 
because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth 
evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his 
deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth, 
cometh to thb light, that his deeds may be made mani¬ 
fest, that they are wrought in God. 

QUESTIONS. ' 

Who was Nicodemus ?-What doctrine did Christ declare to 

him?-To what did he compare the operations of the spirit?_ 

What comparison did he make between himself and Moses > 


Practical Observations. 

Every man must have two births, one from earth, the other from 
heaven ; one of his body, the other of his soul: without the first he 
cannot see nor enjoy this world; without the last, he cannot see noren- 
joy the kingdom of God. As there is an absolute necessity that a child 
should be born into the world, that he may see its light, contemplate 
its glories, and enjoy its good ; so there Is an absolute necessity that 
the soul should be brought out of its state of darkness and sin, through 
the light and power of the grace of Christ, that it may be able *o 
eee, or to discern the glories and excellencies of the'kingdom of 
Christ here, and be prepared for the enjoyment of the kingdom of 
glory hereafter. 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


337 


The new-birth, which is here spoken of, comprehends not only 
what is termed justification or pardon, but also sanctification or holi¬ 
ness. Sin must be pardoned, and the impurity of the heart washed 
away, before any soul can possibly enter into the kingdom of God 
As this new birth implies the renewing of the whole soul in righte¬ 
ousness and true holiness, it is not a matter that may be dispensed with : 
heaven is a place of holiness, and nothing but what is like itself, 
-can ever enter into it. 

CHAP. CLXXYI. 

Christ converses with the Woman of Samaria ; He makes 
himself knoivn to her . Many of the Samaritans believe 
on him. From the fourth Chapter of John . 

Then cometh Jesus to a city of Samaria, which is call- 
ed Sy'char, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave 
to his son Joseph. Now r Jacob’s well was there. Jesus 
therefore being w earied with his journey, sat thus on the 
well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a 
woman of Samaria to draw water : Jesus saith unto her, 
Give me to drink. But she saith unto him, How is it 
that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a 
woman of Samaria ? for the Jews have no dealings with 
the Samaritans. 

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew est the 
gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee. Give me 
to drink ; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would 
have given thee living water. The woman saith unto 
him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well 
is deep : from whence then hast thou that living water ? 
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us 
the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and 
his cattle ? Jesus answered and said unto her. Whoso¬ 
ever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again : but 
whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, 
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, 
shall be in him a well of water springing up into ever¬ 
lasting life. 

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, 
that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw'. Jesus 
saith unto her, Go call thy husband, and come hither. 
The woman answered and said, I have no husband. 
Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no 
husband : for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom 
thou now hast, is not thy husband. In that saidst thou 

E F. 


538 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that 
thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this 
mountain: and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place 
where men ought to worship. 

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour 
cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet 
at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know 
not what: we know what we worship, for salvation is of 
the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the 
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in 
truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God 
is a Spirit: and they that worship him, must worship 
him in Spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, 
I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ : 
when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith 
unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that 
he talked with the woman : yet no man said, What 
seeketh thou ? or, Why talkest thou with her ? The 
woman then left her water-pot, and went her way into 
the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man which 
told me all things that ever I did : Is not this the 
Christ ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto 
him. 

In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, 
Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to 
eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples 
one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat ? 
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him 
that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not >e, There 
are yet four months, and then cometh harvest ? Behold, 
I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields : 
for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth 
receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal : 
that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, may re¬ 
joice together. And herein is that saying true, One 
soweth, and another reapeth. 1 sent you to reap that 
whereon ye bestowed no labour : other men laboured, and 
ye are entered into their labours. 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on 
him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He 
told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans 
were come unto him, they besought him that he would 
tarry with them : and he abode there two days. And 
many more believed, because of his own word; and said 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


339 


Unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy 
saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that 
this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. 

QUESTIONS. 

Near what place is Jacob’s well ?-Whom did Jesus meet there ? 

-What did he request of her ?-What objection did she make 

to giving him water ?-What convinced her that he was a proph¬ 
et ?-Whdt did she say, on returning into the city, to those who 

heard her ? W hat did Jesus say to his disciples, when they requested 
him to eat ? 


Practical Observations. 

The first reflection that is to be made here is, that Christ, meeting 
with a Samaritan woman near the well, in his wisdom and goodness 
made use of that occasion to instruct her, and to bring her to the 
knowledge of the truth, by speaking to her concerning himself and 
his doctrine, under the similitude of water. The manner in which 
our Lord mentioned to her this spiritual water, and the wholesome 
effects which it produces, is a lesson to us, that the knowledge and 
grace of Jesus Christ is the most precious gift that God ever gave to 
men, and what we ought to desire with the greatest fervency. The 
second instruction is, that the grace of God and his covenant, is no 
longer appropriated to one nation or to one peculiar place, as was 
pretended both by the Jews and Samaritans : but that all men, with¬ 
out distinction, may be partakers of it. Also, that the true worship 
which God requires of us, is not only that which is visible and ex¬ 
ternal, but that of the heart; and that as he is a Spirit, they that 
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Lastly, let us 
moreover, observe the answer given by our Lord when urged by his 
disciples to take some meat : “ My meat is do the will of him that 
sent me.” And to show them that they shopM be ready to labour, 
as he did, in the conversion of sinners, he uses the similitude of an 
approaching harvest. Let us gather from hence, that there is noth¬ 
ing which we ought to take greater pleasure and satisfaction in, than 
in doing the will of God, and instructing our neighbours. 

CIIAP. CLXXVII. 

Jesus goeth into Galilee , exercising his publick Ministry, 
and at Capernaum cures the sick Son of a certain No¬ 
bleman. From the first Chapter of Mark , the fourth 
Chapter of Luke , and the fourth Chapter of John . 

Now Jesus departed from Samaria, and went into Gal¬ 
ilee, preaching the gospel of the grace of God, and say¬ 
ing, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at 
hand ; repent ye, and believe the gospel. And there 
went out a fame of him through all the region round 
about. For Jesus testified, that a prophet hath no honour 
Hi his owp country. Then when he was come into Gali- 










340 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


lee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the 
things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast : for they also 
went unto the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of 
Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was 
a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 
When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into 
Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he 
would come down, and heal his son : for he was at the 
point of death. 

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and 
wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto 
him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unt© 
him. Go thy way ; thy son liveth. And the man believ¬ 
ed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went 
his way. And as he was now going down, his servants 
met him, and told him, saying. Thy son liveth. Then 
inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend : 
and they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour 
the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at 
the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy 
son liveth : and himself believed, and his whole house. 
This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he 
was come out of Judea into Galilee. 

QUESTIONS. 

To what place is it here mentioned that Jesus first went ?- 

What is said of the Galileans P-At what place did he perform a 

miracle?-What was it?-How was the nobleman made cer¬ 

tain that his son was cured miraculously by Christ. 


Practical Observations. 

In all our journeys we should copy our Lord’s example : into what¬ 
ever place we come, we should endeavour to render our presence use¬ 
ful ; and we ought always to subordinate our personal accommoda¬ 
tions to that superior object. We should frequently meditate on his 
weariness, and his painful, exposed, and inconvenient situation, when 
he sat thus at the well; few would be cheerfully satisfied, to journey, 
to rest, and to fare as he did. This consideration may teach the 
poor, patience and contentment, and the rich, self-denial, simplicity, 
gratitude, and liberality. 

CHAP. CLXXVIII. 

Jesus goeth to Nazareth , where he preserves his Life by 
a Miracle ; and then proceeds to Capernaum , where he 
fixes his Dwelling. From the fourth Chapter of Luke 
and the fourth Chapter of Matthew. 

And Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been 
brought up : and, as his custom was, he went into the 
synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for tp read. 










I 


fHK BIBLICAL READtffi. 


$41 


And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet 
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the 
place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon 
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to 
the poor ; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, t<5 
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight 
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to 
preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the 
minister, and sat down. And the eyes of ail them that 
were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he 
began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfill¬ 
ed in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wonder¬ 
ed at the gracious words which proceeded out of his 
mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son ? 

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this 
proverb, Physician, heal thyself : whatsoever we have 
heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 
But I teli you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in 
the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years 
and six months, when great famine was throughout all the 
land : But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto 
Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 
And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elise'us the 
prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Na'aman 
the Syrian. 

And ail they in the synagogue, when they heard these 
things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust 
him out of the cit} r , and led him unto the brow of the hill, 
(whereon their city was built) that they might cast him 
down headlong. But he, passing through the midst of 
them, went his way. 

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Caper¬ 
naum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zab- 
ulon and Neph'thalim, That it might be fulfilled which 
was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of 
Zabulon, and the land of Neph'thalim, by the way of the 
sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles : The people 
which sat in darkness, saw great light: and to them 
which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung 
up. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where did Jesus appear on coming to Nazareth ? —— What did 
the people ask when he had finished reading from the prophet 

Esaias ?-What caused him to leave Nazareth ?——Where did ho 

then go ?■ 


E e 2 








THE BIBLICAL READER.* 


3.42 

Practical Observations. 

We, who have no such prejudices and passions as the Jews had to 
mislead our judgment, know that our Lord most completely verified . 
the words of the Prophet, both in their literal and their spiritual mean¬ 
ing. He preached the Gospel to the poor in fortune, the poor in spir¬ 
it, and the poor in religious knowledge. He healed the broken-heart¬ 
ed ; he raised and comforted those that were oppressed with calam- 
i ty, disease, and sin. He gave sight also to the blind ; he removed the 
film from the mental as well as the corporeal eye ; and to those 
that sat in darkness he disclosed at once the cheerful light of day, 
and still more glorious light of Divine truth. To the captives, to 
them that were bruised, he preached deliverance : he preached a doc-^ 
trine which not only released from spiritual bondage those that had 
been led captive by their sins, but so softened and subdued the most 
ferocious minds, and diffused throughout the earth such a spirit of 
mildness, gentleness, mercy, and humanity, that the heavy chains 
of personal slavery were gradually broken in most parts of the Chris¬ 
tian world ; and they, that had been for so many ages bruised by the 
cruel and oppressive hand of Pagan masters, were at length set free. 

CHAP. CLXXIX. 

The Call of Simon and Andrew, and likewise of James and 
John, with the Miracle which preceded it ; in the Syn¬ 
agogue at Capernaum Christ heals a Demoniack ; and 
performs other Miracles throughout Galilee . From the 

fifth Chapter of Luke, the first Chapter of Mark, and 
the fourth Chapter of Matthew. 

And it came to pass, that as. the people pressed upon 
him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of 
Gennes'aret, and saw two ships standing by the lake * 
but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were 
washing their nets. And he entered into one of the 
ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he 
would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat 
down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now 
when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch 
out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 
And Simon, answering, said unto him, Master, we have 
toiled all the night, and have taken nothing y never¬ 
theless, at thy word, I will let down the net. 

And when they had this done, they enclosed a great 
multitude of fishes ; and their net brake. And they 
beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other 
ship, that they should come and help them. And they 
came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to 
sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ 
knees, saying, Depart from me $ for I am a sinful man. 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


343 


0 Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with 
him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken : 
and so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, 
which were partners with Simon. 

Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will 
make you to become fishers of men. And straightway 
they forsook their nets, and followed him. When he 
had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of 
Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship 
mending their nets. And straightway he called them : 
and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the 
hired servants, and went after him. 

And they went into Capernaum ; and straightway on 
the sabbath-day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 
And they were astonished at his doctrine ; for he taught, 
them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

There was in their synagogue a man with an unclean 
spirit ; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone ; what 
have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth ? Art 
thou come to destroy us : I know thee who thou art, the 
Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 
Hold thy peace, and come out of him. When the un-. 
clean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, 
he came out of him. And they were all amazed, inso¬ 
much that they questioned among themselves, saying, 
What thing is this ? what new doctrine is this ? for with 
authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and 
they do obey him. 

Forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, 
they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with 
James and John. But Simon's wife’s mother lay sick of 
a fever : and anon they tell him of her. And he came 
and took her by the hand, and lifted her up ,* and immedi¬ 
ately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto 
him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed 
with devils. And all the city was gathered together at 
the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers 
diseases, and cast out many devils ; and suffered not the 
devils to speak, because they knew him. 

And in the morning, rising up a great while before 
day^ he went out and departed into a solitary place, and 
there prayed. And Simon, and they that were with him, 
followed after him. And when they had found him, they 
said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto 


344 


the biblical reader. 


them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach 
there also : for therefore came I forth. 

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their syn¬ 
agogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and 
healing: all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease 
among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syr¬ 
ia : and they brought unto him all sick people that were 
taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which 
were possessed with devils, and those which were luna- 
tick, and those that had the palsy ; and he healed them. 
And there followed him great multitudes of people from 
Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and 
from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. 

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, 
and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, 
If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Je¬ 
sus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, 
and touched him, and saith unto him, I will ; be thou 
clean. As soon as he had spoken, imhiediately the lep¬ 
rosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he 
straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away ; and 
saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man ; but go 
thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy 
cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a 
testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to 
publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, inso¬ 
much that Jesus could no more openiy enter into the 
city, but was without in desert places : and they came to 
him from every quarter. 

QUESTIONS. 

At what place is Jesus represented to be in the beginning of this 

chapter ?-What miracle did he perform here ?-What did he 

say to Simon and Andrew, James and John, on directing them to fol¬ 
low him ? What miracle did he perform in the synagogue at Ca¬ 
pernaum P What other miracles mentioned in this chapter did he 

perform ? 


Practical Observations. 

The miracles of our Saviour are widely different from those per¬ 
formed under the Mosaick dispensation. Till he came into the 
world, miracles were generally expressions of God’s justice and 
righteous indignation. The world is destroyed by a deluge of waters 
—the language of men at Babel is confounded—a most distressing 
series of calamities is sent upon the Egyptians—Pharaoh and his host 
are drowned in the Red Sea—the earth opens and swallows up Ko- 
rah, Dathan and Abiram—nearly two hundred thousand of the army 
of Sennecharib when beseiging Jerusalem were cut off by the destroy- 







THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


345 


ing angel in one night! Such wore the miracles by which the divine 
glory was vindicated before the coming of Christ. But his miracles 
were expressions of kindness—exhibitions of the most tender com¬ 
passion. There was nothing in them to punish and affright man¬ 
kind—no appearances of terror or of vengeance ! He fed the hungry, 
healed the sick, made the lame to walk, gave sight to the blind, 
speech to the dumb, hearing to the deaf, soundness to palsied limbs, 
and raised the dead to life 1 A bright radiance of the most mild and 
ineffable glory overshadowed all his mighty acts. Instead of destroy¬ 
ing his most bitter enemies, seemingly his last breath was spent in 
prayer f >r his very murderers, saying, Father, forgive them, for they 
k:i >w not what they do ! 

CHAP. CLXXX. 

Christ healeth one sick of the Palsy. From the second 
Chapter of Mark, and the fifth Chapter of Luke. 

Agyiv Jesus entered into Capernaum $ and it was 
noised th at he was in the house. And it came to pass 
on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were 
Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were 
come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Je¬ 
rusalem ; and the power of the Lord was present to 
heal them. 

And straightway many were gathered together, in¬ 
somuch that there was no room to receive them, no not 
so much as about the door : and he preached the word 
unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick 
of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they 
could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncov¬ 
ered the roof where he was : and when they had broken 
it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the 
palsy lay. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of 
the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there 
were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning 
in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphe¬ 
mies P Who can forgive sins but God only ? 

Immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit, that 
they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, 
Why reason ye these things in your hearts ? Whether is 
it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be for¬ 
given thee ; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and 
walk ? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath 
power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick ol 
the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, 
and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he 







346 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all ; 
insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified Cfod, 
saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

QUESTIONS. 

Intq what place is it here mentioned that Jesus came ?-What 

miracle did he there perform ?-What particular evidence of faith 

was manifested on this occasion ?-Of what was Christ accused by 

the scribes P 


Practical Observations. 

Violent sickness and the fear of death, when united to some hope 
of recovery and an apprehension that the opportunity may speedily 
elapse, will render men willing to use various irksome and painful 
methods of cure; and the failure of one, commonly renders them 
more eager to make trial of another—this, indeed, is not to be blamed ; 
on the contrary, we should put ourselves to inconveniences and hard¬ 
ships, in attempting the relief of the afflicted and diseased, but it is 
most to be desired, that their affliction may bring them to Christ for 
the salvation of their souls, as well as for a blessing on the means 
used to recover bodily health ; for in that case their afflictions will 
certainly be either removed or sanctified. Forgiveness of sins, being 
the forerunner of all other real blessings, is far more valuable than 
the removal of any sickness ; and the loss of the soul is infinitely more 
dreadful than the death of the body ; but how very few act as if 
they believed these undeniable truths ! 

CHAP. CLXXXI. 

The healing of an Impotent Man at Bethesda , in Jerusa¬ 
lem ; the Jews persecute Jesus for doing it on the Sabbath 
Day. He vindicates his Conduct , maintaining his Dig¬ 
nity and Power . From the fifth Chapter of John. 

There is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, 
which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having; five 
porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotentTolk, 
of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the 
water. For an angel went down at a certain season into 
the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first 
after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made 
whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man 
w r as there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had" been 
now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt 
thou be made whole ? The impotent man answered him, 
Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me 
into the pool : but while I am coming, another steppeth 
down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up 






THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


347 


ihy bed) and walk. And immediately the man was 
made whole, and took up his bed, and walked : and on 
the same day was the sabbath. 

The Jews therefore said unto hi in that was cured. It is 
the sabbath-day ; it is not lawful for thee to carry thy 
bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the 
same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then 
asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, 
Take up thy bed, and walk ? And he that was healed 
knew not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself 
away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus 
findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, 
thou art made whole : sin no more, lest a worse thing 
come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jew r s 
that, it was Jesus which had made him whole. There- 
iore did the Jew s persecute Jesus, and sought to slay 
him, because he had done these things on the sabbath-day. 

But J esus answered them, My Father worketh hith¬ 
erto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more 
to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, 
but said also, that God was his Father, tnakimg himself 
equal with God. Then answered Jesus, and said unto 
them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do 
nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do : for 
what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son 
likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him 
all things that himself doeth : and he will shew him great¬ 
er works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the 
Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even 
so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father 
judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto 
the Son : that all men should honour the Son, even as 
they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the 
Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my 
word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasG 
ing life, and shall not come into condemnation ; but is 
passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto 
1 you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead 
shall hear the voice of the Son ot God : and they that 
hear shall live. For as the Father bath 'life in himself, 
so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and 
hath given him authority to execute judgment also, be¬ 
cause he is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this : for the 
hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves 








348 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


9 hall hear his voice, and shall come forth ; they that 
have done good unto the resurrection «ot life : and they 
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 
I can of mine own self do nothing: as 1 hear, I judge . 
and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own 
will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If 
I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 

There is another that beareth witness of me, and I 
know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 
But I receive not testimony from man ; but these things 
I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a 
shining light: and ye were willing for a season to re¬ 
joice in his light. 

But I have greater witness than that of John : for the 
works which the Father hath given me to finish, the 
same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the 
Father hath sent me. And the Father himself which 
hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have 
neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 
And ye have not his word abiding in you : for whom he 
hath sent, him ye believe not. 

Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 
And ye will not come to me, that y£ might have life. I 
receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye 
have not the love of God in you. I am come in my 
Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall 
come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can 
ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and 
seek not the honour that cometh from God only ? Do not 
think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one 
that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For 
had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me : for 
he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how 
shall ye believe my words. 

QUESTIONS. 

At what place did Jesus cure the infirm person named in this chap¬ 
ter ?-For what did the Jews find fault in this miracle ?-How 

long had the man been subject to infirmity, cured by Christ?- 

W hat is contained in the latter part of this chapter ? 


Practical Observations. 

The place, where the gospel is preached and divine ordinances 
are administered, is the true Bethesda. Thither the poor and help¬ 
less repair i and hope and wait for a cure, whatever arc their spirit- 






THE BIBLrCAL READER. 


349 


«al diseases, or however inveterate they have become. Though the 
multiplied miracles of converting grace, which better ages witnessed, 
are not vouchsafed among us ; yet we still see instances of such as by 
washing in the fountain which God hath opened, are made whole of 
their most desperate maladies. If any seem to meet with reiterated 
disappointments, they should still wait, hope, and seek ; not neglecting 
the means of grace, or ceasing to labour and pray for the blessing ; 
for sometimes they, whose case seems most hop-dess, and who are 
ready to give up all for lost, are made partakers of mercy, peace, and 
.spiritual health, when they least expect them. The Saviour perfect¬ 
ly knows, both how long men have been contracting habits of sin, and 
how long seeking the help and joy of his salvation ; and he continu¬ 
ally attends in his houses of mercy, to inquire of sinners, whether they 
will be made whole. 

CHAP. Cl,XXXII. 

Jesus vindicates his Disciples for plucking Ears of Corn 
on the Sabbath; He heals a Man with a withered 
Hand on the Sabbath ; He withdraws from the Phari¬ 
sees and heals various sick Persons ; He retires to a 
Mountain and chooses his Twelve Apostles. From the 
tenth and twelfth Chapters of Matthew , the second and 
third Chapters of Mark , and the sixth Chapter of 
Luke. 

It came to pass, that Jesus went through the corn¬ 
fields on the sabbath-day ; and his disciples were an 
hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to 
eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him. 
Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawf I to do 
upon the sabbath-day. But he said unto them. Have ve 
notread what David did when he was an hungered, and 
they that were with him ; how he entered into the house 
of God, and did eat the shew-bread, which was not law¬ 
ful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, 
but only for the priests ? 

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sab- 
bath-days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, 
and are blameless ? But I say unto you, that in this 
place is one greater than the temple. The sabbath was 
made for man, and not man for the sabbath. But if ye 
had known what this meaneth, I will have me cy. and 
not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned rhe guilt¬ 
less. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the sab¬ 
bath-day. 

And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he enter¬ 
ed into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man 

F F 


350 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and 
Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the 
sabbath-day ; that they might find an accusation against 
him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man 
which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth 
in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. And they 
asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath- 
days P that they might accuse him. And lie said unto 
them, What man shall there be among you, that shall 
have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath- 
day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out ? How 
much then is a man better than a sheep P Wherefore it is 
lawful to do well on the sabbath-days. 

Then saith Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing, 
Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-days, or to do 
evil ? To save life, or to kill ? But they held their peace. 
And when he had looked round about on them with 
anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he 
saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he 
stretched it out; and his hand was restored whole as the 
other. And they were filled with madness ; and com¬ 
muned with one another what they might do to Jesus. 

And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took 
counsel with the Herod ians against him, how they might 
destroy him. But Jesus withdrew himself with his dis¬ 
ciples to the sea : and a great multitude from Galilee 
followed him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and 
from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan ; and they about 
Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard 
what great things he did, came unto him. And he 
spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on 
him, because of the multitude, lest they should throng 
him. For he had healed many ; insomuch that they 
pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had 
plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, 
fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the 
Son of God. 

Then he charged them that they should not make him 
known ; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by 
Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant whom I 
have chosen $ my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased ; 
I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judg¬ 
ment to the Gentiles, He shall not strive nor cry ; 
neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A 
bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall 




THE BIBLICAL READER* 


351 


lie not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory $ 
and in his name shall the Gentiles trust. 

And it came to pass in those days that he went out in¬ 
to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer 
to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his 
disciples ; and of them he chose twelve, whom also he 
named Apostles ; that they should be with him, and that 
he might send them forth to preach ; and to have power 
to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Now the 
names of the twelve Apostles are these ; the first Simon, 
who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the 
son of Zebedee, and John his brother ; Philip and Bar¬ 
tholomew ; Thomas and Matthew the Publican ; James 
the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was 
Thaddeus 5 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, 
who also betrayed him. 

And he came down with them and stood in the plain ; 
and the company of his disciples and a great multitude of 
people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea 
coasts of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him and 
to be healed of their diseases ; and they that were vexed 
with unclean spirits ; and they were healed. And the 
wdiole multitude sought to touch him ; for there went vir¬ 
tue out of him and healed them all. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did the disciples of Christ do on the Sabbath-day with 

which the Pharisees found fault ?-What miracle did he afterwards 

perform on the Sabbath-day ?—— Where did he spend a whole night 

in prayer to God ?-What did lie do on the morning following ?- 

What are the names of the twelve Apostles ? 


Practical Observations. 

We may learn from what our Lord said concerning the Sabbath;, 
and especially from his declaration, I will have mercy and not sacri¬ 
fice, that the ordinances of religion should be regulated according to 
their end, which is the honor of God, and the salvation of men. It 
is the property of true religion to contain nothing in it but what is 
beneficial to men. Hereby God plainly shows, that it is not for his 
own benefit, that he requires men to worship and obey him ; but 
onlv out of goodness, and to make them happy. God prohibited 
work on the Sabbath-day, lest servants should be oppressed by their 
masters, that the laboring beasts might have necessary rest, and that 
men might have a pioper opportunity to attend upon his ordinances,, 
and thereby the bettor to promote their eternal interests. 







352 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. CLXXXIII. 

ChrisVs Sermon on the Mount. From the fifth Chapter 

of Matthew's Gospel. 

And seeing the multitudes* he went up into a mountain ; 
and when he v\asset, his disciples came unto him. And 
he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed 
a *e the poor in spirit ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth. 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteous¬ 
ness : for they shall be tilled. Blessed are the merciful 
for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: 
for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers : 
for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are 
they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake : for 
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Biessed are ye when 
men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all 
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rej oice, 
and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven : 
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before 
you. 

Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost 
his savour, wherewith shall it be salted ? It is thenceforth 
good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden 
under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city 
that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light 
a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick : 
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let 
your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the 
prophets : 1 am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For 
verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one 
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all 
be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these 
leas' commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be 
called ihe least in the kingdom of heaven : but whosoever 
shall do, and teach them, the same shall be called great 
in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That ex¬ 
cept your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of 
toe scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into 
the kingdom ot heaven. 

Yc !iave heard that it was said by them of old time, 
f hou shall not kill ; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in 











SlfeLICAL READER. 


353 


i\ tnger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whoso¬ 
ever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in 
danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his 
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council : but 
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell- 
fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and 
there remeinberest that thy brother hath ought against 
thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy 
way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and 
offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while 
thou art in the way with him ; lest at any time the adver¬ 
sary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee 
to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily, I say 
unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till 
thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast 
it from thee : for it is profitable for thee that one of thy 
members should perish, and not that thy whole body 
should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend 
thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee : for it is profitable 
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not 
that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of 
old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt per¬ 
form unto the Lord thine oaths : But I say unto you, 
Swear not at all : neither by heaven ; for it is God’s 
throne : Nor by the earth ; for it is his footstool : neither 
by Jerusalem ; for it is the city of the great King : Neith¬ 
er shalt thou swear by thy head : because thou canst not 
make one hair white or black. But let your communica¬ 
tion be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more 
than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath 
been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 
But I say unto you. That ye resist not evil: but whoso¬ 
ever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the 
other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and 
take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And 
whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him 
twain. Give to him that asketh thee ; and from him that 
would borrow of thee, turn not thou away. 

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love 
thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy : But I say unto 
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do 
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which 
despitefully use you, and persecute you ; that ye may be 


354 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


the children of your Father which is in heaven ; for he 
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and 
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye 
love them which love you, what reward have ye P do not 
even the publicans the same ? And if ye salute your breth¬ 
ren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the 
publicans so? Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your 
Father which is in heaven is perfect. 


Practical Observations. 

The beatitudes, as the maxims in the first part of this chapter are 
called, teach us wherein the true happiness of man consists, and how 
to distinguish the true disciples of Christ ; whose character it is, 
Sot to set their hearts upon the riches, pleasures, or honours of this 
World, but ta be unconcerned about earthly things ; to live in meek¬ 
ness, humility, holiness, and peace ; to desire ardently and above all 
things, to be holy and to please God, and even joyfully to undergo 
persecution for the sake of the gospel. 

All the commands which require the exact government of the 
tongue with meekness, patient endurance of injuries, love of ene¬ 
mies, yielding to the injurious, and doing good to our persecutors, 
though contrary to corrupt nature, and the maxims of an evil world, 
have an evident excellency in them, and are calculated to form 
a character of real dignity, and bearing a great resemblance to 
the divine purity, patience, beneficence, and mercy ; and doubtless 
they who act according to these rules, will both have most peace 
and comfort themselves, and be the greatest blessings to their fami¬ 
lies, neighbours, and the communitj'. Were they universally obeyed, 
the greatest part of the evils in the world would be annihilated : 
Wars, massacies, law-suits, domestic discords, frauds, rapines, oppres¬ 
sions, would cease : unavoidable evils would be mitigated, and ren¬ 
dered more supportable ; equity, truth, purity, peace, and love, 
would, as it were, descend from heaven to dwell on earth. 




CHAP. CLXXXIV. 

Christ’s Sermon on the Mount continued—of Alms, Pray 
er, and various Precepts relating to the Christian Char¬ 
acter. From the sixth Chapter of Matthew. 

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be 
seen of them : otherwise ye have no reward of your Fa¬ 
ther which is in heaven. Therefore, when thou doest 
thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the 
hypocrites do, in the synagogues, and in the streets, that 
they may have glory of men ; Verily, I say unto you, they 
have their reward. But when thou doest alms, \et not 
thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth : That 
thine alms maybe in secret; and thy Father which seeth 
-in secret, himself shall reward thee openly. 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


355 


And when thou prayest, thou shaltnot be as the hypo¬ 
crites are : for they love to pray standing in the syna¬ 
gogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may 
be seen of men. Verily, l say unto you, they have their 
reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy 
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy 
Father, which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in 
secret, shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use 
not vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they think 
that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not 
ye therefore like unto them : for your Father knoweth 
what things ye have need of before ye ask him. 

After this manner therefore pray ye : Our Father 
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy king¬ 
dom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our 
debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the 
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
For, if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly 
Father will also forgive you : but if ye forgive not men 
their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your 
trespasses. 

Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a 
sad countenance : for they disfigure their faces, that 
they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto 
you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fast¬ 
est, anoint thine head, and wash thy face ; that thou ap¬ 
pear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, which is 
in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall re¬ 
ward thee openly. 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where 
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break 
through and steal : but lay up for yourselves treasures 
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and 
where thieves do not break through nor steal. For 
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 
The light of the body is the eye : if therefore thine eye* 
be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if 
thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of dark¬ 
ness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, 
how great is that darkness ! 

No man can serve two masters ; for either he will hate 
the one, and love the other $ or else he will hold to the 
tfjie. and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and 


35<j 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought 
for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink $ 
nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the 
life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold 
the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they 
reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your heavenly Father 
feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they ? 
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto 
his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment ? 
Consider the lilies of the field how they grow ? they toil 
not, neither do they spin ; and yet I say unto you, that 
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of 
these. 

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, 
which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, 
shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith ? 
Therefore take no thought, saying. What shall we eat ? 
or, what shall we drink ? or, wherewithal shall we be 
clothed ? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek,) 
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of 
all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, 
and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added 
unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow : 
for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. 
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 


Practical Observations. 

Our Saviour commands us carefully to avoid hypocrisy and vain 
glory in giving alms, in prayer, and fasting ; and to discharge these 
duties with sincerity and humility ; remembering that we are in the 
presence of God, to whom all the secrets of our hearts are exposed ; 
and that hypocrites have no reward to expect from him. Since the 
Lord’s prayer was composed by Jesus Christ himself, and compre¬ 
hends all that is necessary for the glory of God and our own happi¬ 
ness, the use we are to make of it is, to offer it up to God with the 
greatest reverence, fervency, and devotion ; and to adapt, not only 
our prayers, but likewise our thoughts and behaviour, to that excellent 
pattern which Christ has left us. 

Whilst we ask of God, day by day, our daily bread, let it admon¬ 
ish us of the uncertainty of life, and of every thing we possess in it, and 
therefore of the necessity of obtaining that bread of life, of which he 
that eateth shall never hunger. Our Saviour no where teaches us to 
take thought, that is, I mean anxious thought, for the morrow. He 
well knew that we are but creatures of a day, and that the present 
• moment is all we can call our own : he, therefore, thought it suffi¬ 
cient for us to ask for present support, leaving futurity to the dispo¬ 
sal of him, who governs the changes and chances of life. It will be¬ 
come us, therefore, to live daily in a sense of our uncertain condition, 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


35 7 


to form no distant schemes of pleasure or ambition ; but rather, whilst 
»t is yet in our power, to prepare for that great and awful change 
which awaits us, knowing that the tenure of life, like the supply of 
our bodily wants, is but from day to day. 

440 


CHAP. 


CLXXXV. 


Christ’s Sermon on the Mount continued; the Nature of 
true Religion. From the seventh Chapter of Matthew , 
and the sixth Chapter of Luke. 

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged : condemn not, 
and ye shall not be condemned : forgive, and ye snail be 
forgiven : give, and it shall be given unto you : good 
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and run¬ 
ning over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the 
same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured 
to you again. And he spake a parable unto them ; Can 
the blind lead the blind ? shall they not both fall into 
the ditch ? The disciple is not above his master : but 
every one that is perfect, shall be as his master. 

And Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy broth¬ 
er’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine 
own eye. ? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me 
pull out the mote out of thine eye, and behold a 
beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first 
cast out the beam out of thine own eye: and then 
shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy 
brother’s eye. Give not that which is holy unto the 
dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they 
trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend 
you. 

Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : for every 
one that asketh, receiveth ; and lie that seeketh, findeth ; 
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what 
man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he 
give him a stone ? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a 
serpent? If ye then being evil know how to give good 
gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Fa¬ 
ther which is in heaven give good tilings to them that ask 
him ? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that 
men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is 
the law and the prophets. 

Enter ye in at the strait gate ; for wide is the gate, 
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and 
many there be which go in thereat : Because strait is the 


358 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and 
few there be that find it. 

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s 
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye 
shall know them by their fruits : Do men gather grapes 
of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree 
bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth 
forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil 
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn 
down, and cast into the fire. A good man out of the 
good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is 
good ; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his 
heart, bringeth forth that which is evil ; for of the abund¬ 
ance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Wherefore by 
their fruits ye shall know them. 

Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall 
enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the 
will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to 
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in 
thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in 
thy name done many wonderful works ? And then will 
I profess unto them, I never knew you : depart from me, 
ye that work iniquity. 

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and 
doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which 
built his house upon a rock r and the rain descended, 
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon 
that house \ and it fell not : for it was founded upon a 
rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, 
and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, 
which built his house upon the sand : and the rain de¬ 
scended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and 
beat upon that house ; and it fell, and great was the fall 
of it. And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these 
sayings, the people weie astonished at his doctrine. 
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as 
the scribes. 


Practical Observations. 

W hat a fund of encouragement is here for all manner of virtue, and 
particularly for devotion, that we may be fit objects of God’s gra¬ 
cious care and providence, when we reflect that every petition of a 
good man is heard and regarded by him who holds the reins of na¬ 
ture in his hand. When God, from his throne of celestial glory is¬ 
sues out that uncontrollable command, to which all events are sub^ 













the eiblical reader. 


359 


'ject, the desires of humble pious Christians are not overlooked by 
him. The good man’s prayer is among the reasons by which the 
Omnipotent is moved in the administration of the universe. How 
little is all earthly greatness! How low and impotent the proudest 
nronarchs, if compared with the poorest person in the world, wl o 
leads but a good life! For their influence, even in their highest 
prosperity, is only among weak men like themselves ; but the poor 
man’s prayer piereeth the clouds : and, weak and contemptible as he 
seems, he can draw down the host of heaven, and arm the Almighty 
in his defence, so long as he can but utter his wants, or turn the 
thoughts of his heart to God. 

CHAP. CLXXXVL 

7'he Servant of the Centurion healed; and the Widow’s 

Son is raised from the dead at Nain. From the seventh 

Chapter of Lake , and the eighth Chapter of Matthew . 

Now when lie had ended all his sayings in the audi¬ 
ence of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a 
certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was 
sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, lie 
sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that 
he would come and heal his servant. And when they 
came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that 
he was worthy for whom he should do this : for he loveth 
our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now 
not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, 
saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself : for I am not 
worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof; where¬ 
fore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee ; 
but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For 
I also am a man set under authority, having under me 
soldiers, and 1 say unto one, go, and he goetli ; and to 
another come, and he cometh ; and to my servant, do- 
tliis, and he doeth it. 

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, 
■and turned him about and said unto the people that follow¬ 
ed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, 
no, not in Israel. And I say unto you that many shall 
come from the east and west, and shall sit down with 
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heav¬ 
en. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out 
into outer darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing 
of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, go thy 
way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. 
And his servant was healed in the self-same hour. And 








360 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


they that were sent, returning to the house, found the 
servant whole that had been sick. 

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a 
city called Nain : and many of his disciples went with 
him and much people. Now when he came nigh to the 
gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried 
out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow : 
and much people of the city was with her. And when 
the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said 
unto her, weep not. And he came and touched the bier : 
and they that bare him stood still. And he said, young 
man, I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat 
up, and began to speak, and he delivered him to his moth¬ 
er. And there came a fear on all : and they glorified 
God, saying, that a great prophet is risen up among us ; 
and, that God hath visited his people. And this rumour 
of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout 
all the region round about. 

QUESTIONS. 

'x 

What is the first miracle performed by Jesus, mentioned in this 

Chapter ?-At what place was it performed ?-What did Jesus 

say to the Centurion ?-What was the ne.\t miracle performed by 

him' ?-Where w r as it ? 


Practical Observations. 

The history of the. Centurion, who entreated our Lord to heal his 
servant, is particularly remarkable, for the profound humility and 
surprising faith of that man, who did not think himself worthy’to re¬ 
ceive Christ into his house ; and was persuaded, that without coming 
to him, our Lord needed only to say the word, and the servant would 
be healed, with as much ease as he, being an officer, could command 
the soldiers under him to obey him. Our Lord’s great commenda¬ 
tion of the faith of that officer (who was born a heathen) saying that 
he had not found so great faith even among the Jews, obliges ns to 
take great notice of that example, and to imitate the faith and humil¬ 
ity of the Centurion. 

We have here too a wonderful example of the divine goodness. 
When the widow, following her only son to the grave, gave herself 
up for a forlorn mourner, past redress, the God of comfort meets 
her, pities her, relieves her. Here w*as no solicitor, but his own com¬ 
passion. In other occasions, he was sought and sued to The centu¬ 
rion comes to him for a servant ; the ruler, for a son ; Jairus fora 
daughter ; the neighbours, for a paralytic here he seeks up the 
patient and offer's the cure unrequested. While w e have to dc with 
the Father of mercies, our afflictions are the most powerful suitors. 
No tears, no prayers, can move him so much ns his own commiseral 
tion. O God, none of our secret sorrows cart be hid from thine 
eyes ; and when we are past all our hopes, all possibilities of help 
thou art then the nearer to us for deliverance. 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


361 




1 

th 

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CHAP. CLXXXVII. 

Reply of Jesus to the Messengers of John ; also his 
Reflections in Consequence of his Appeal to his mighty 
Works . From the eleventh Chapter of Matthew and 
the seventh Chapter of Luke . 

When John had heard in the prison the works of Christ 
he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou 
he that should come, or do we look for another ? Jesus 
answered and said unto them, go and shew John again 
those things which ye do hear and see : the blind receive 
their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, 
and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor 
have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he 
whosoever shall not be offended in me. 

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the 
multitudes concerning John, what went ye out into the 
wilderness to see ? A reed shaken with the wind ? But 
what went ye out for to see ? A man clothed in soft 
raiment ? Behold they that wear soft clothing are in 
kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see ? A 
prophet P Yea, I say unto you, and more than a proph¬ 
et. For this is he of whom it is written, behold, I send 
my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy 
way before thee. Verily, I say unto you, among them 
that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater 
than John the Baptist : notwithstanding, he that is least in 
the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he. And from 
the days of John the Baptist, until now, the kingdom of 
heaven sufFereth violence, and the violent take it by 
force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until 
John. And if ve will receive it, this is Elias which was 
for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, 
justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 
*But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of 
God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 

But whereunto shall 1 liken this generation ? It is 
like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling 
unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, 
ami ye have not danced ; we have mourned unto you, 
and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating 
nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. I he Son 
of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, 

G G 








362 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publi¬ 
cans and sinners. But wisdom is justiiied of her chil¬ 
dren. 

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of 
his mighty works were done, because they repented not. 
Wo unto thee, Chorazin ; wo unto thee, Bethsaida : for 
if the mighty works which were done in you had been 
done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented lon^ 
ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall 
be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judg¬ 
ment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art 
exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell : for 
if the mighty works which have been done in thee, 
had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until 
this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tol¬ 
erable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, 
than for thee. At that time Jesus answered and said, 
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, be¬ 
cause thou hast hid these things from the wise and pru¬ 
dent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Fa¬ 
ther ; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are 
delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth 
the Son, but the Father ; neither knoweth any man the 
Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will 
reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are 
heavy laden, and 1 will give you rest. Take my yoke 
upon you, and learn of me : for I am meek and lowly in 
heart ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my 
yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

QUESTIONS. 

Where was John when he heard of the works of Christ ?- 

Whom did he send to Christ P-What cities did Christ upbraid for 

their impenitence?-What does he say in the conclusion of this 

chapter ? 


Practical Observations. 

It is unhappily too true, that, from the first coming of Christ in 
the flesh to this time, there have been unreasonable men who have 
been offended in him. And there will not fail to be such even with¬ 
in the pale of Christianity. His doctrines have been complained of, 
as laying too great restraint on human nature, as hard and impracti¬ 
cable sayim e. His mysteries have been doubted of, disputed against, 
and ridiculed by men of perverse and proud minds, who are resolved 
to believe nothing farther than they can thoroughly and clearly com¬ 
prehend. His person itself, the circumstances and way of his com¬ 
ing into the world, have been an offence to many ; *« to the Jews a 
stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishnessa constant occasion 





the biblical reaber. 


363 


'ttf falling to all sinful men, whose high minds are not brought into cap¬ 
tivity to the obedience of faith, nor made fit for the reception of the 
truth, as it is in Jesus. But blessed are all they, as his own lips 
declared, who in none ofthese ways are offended in him. 

I he first and obvious idea presented to the mind, by the invitation 
in the concluding part of this chapter, is, that man labours under a 
heavy burden; from which Christ engages to relieve him, upon con¬ 
dition that application be made to him for that purpose—in,other 
words, that Jesus Christ is the source, from whence all spiritual rest 
is denved ; and that those sinners who would find that rest must go to 
Christ for it. And when sinners shall duly feel the burden of sin, ac¬ 
companied with a deep conviction that the weight of it must finally sink 
them into perdition, their hearts will rejoice at the sound of the gra¬ 
cious invitations, “ Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest.” 

CHAP. CLXXXVIIt. 

vfif Woman who had been a Sinner , is publickly assured of 

Forgiveness by Jesus sitting at Meat with a Pharisee . 

From the seventh Chapter of Luke. 

One of the Pharisees desired Jesus that he would eat 
with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and 
sat down to meat. And behold, a woman in the city, 
which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at 
meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster-box. 
of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, 
and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them 
with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and 
anointed them with the ointment. 

When the Pharisee which had bidden him, saw it, he 
spake within himself, saying, this man, if he were a 
prophet, would have known who, and what manner of 
woman this is that touched him : for she is a sinner. 
Jesus answering, said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat 
to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There 
was a certain creditor, which had two debtors : the one 
owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And 
when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them 
both. Tell me therefore which of them will love him 
most ? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to 
whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, thou hast 
rightly judged. 

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, 
Seest thou this woman ? 1 entered into thine house, thou 

gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed 
my feet with tears, and wiped them witli the hairs of her 
head. Thou gavest me no kiss : but this woman, since 




$64 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet- 
Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint : but this woman 
hath anointed iny feet with ointment. W herefore I say 
unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven $ for 
she loved much : but to whom little is forgiven, the 
same loveth little. And he said unto her, thy sins are 
forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him, began to 
say within themselves, who is this that forgiveth sins 
also ? And he said to the woman, thy faith hath saved 
thee ; go in peace. 

QUESTIONS. 

On what occasion was Jesus at the house of Simon the Pharisee ? 

--On what account did Simon find fault with him ?——Ilow did 

Jesus convince Simon that he had acted properly ?-What did h© 

say to the woman ? 


Practical Observations. 

The history of the woman that was a sinner, has something in i$ 
very remarkable, and instructs us in the nature and efficacy of true 
repentance. We find in the penitent sinner here mentioned, a pat¬ 
tern of that profound humility with which sinners ought to bewail 
their sins ; and of that lively sorrow which pierces the soul, and 
which expresses itself by confession, bv tears, and by all the tokens 
of a sincere compunction, and of a holy confusion, and which pro¬ 
duces an entire renunciation of sin. We see here, with how much 
goodness the Saviour of the world receives true penitents, and par¬ 
dons their sins. What he says to the Pharisee, who believed that 
Jesus was not a prophet, because he permitted that same sinner to 
approach him, and to kiss his feet, tended to convince him, that he 
knew very well what this woman was, but that he did not reject 
great sinners when they were truly penitent, and that we also should 
net reject nor despise them. 

4 * 


CHAP. CLXXXIX. 

In a second Journey through Galilee Jesus heals a Be - 
moniack : the Sin against the Holy Ghost; the Scribes 
and Pharisees reproved for seeking a Sign, From the 
ninth and twelfth Chapters of Matthew, the third 
Chapter of Mark, and the eighth, ninth , and eleventh 
Chapters of iMke, 

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 
teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel 
of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every 
disease, among the people. And ihe twelve were with 
him ; and certain women, which had been healed of 
evil spirits, Mary called Magdale'ne, out of whom went 
seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza,. Herod's 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


365 


steward, and Susanna, and many others which minister¬ 
ed unto him of their substance. And they went into 
an house. And the multitude cometh again together, so 
that they could not so much as eat bread. When his 
friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him ; 
for they said he is beside himself. 

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, 
blind and dumb : and he healed him, insomuch that the 
blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the peo¬ 
ple were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of 
David P But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, 
This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub 
the prince of the devils. 

But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, 
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to deso¬ 
lation ; and a house divided against a house falleth. If 
Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his king¬ 
dom stand P because ye say that I cast out devils through 
Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by 
whom do your sons cast them out ? therefore shall they 
be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out 
devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 
When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods 
are in peace; but when a stronger han he shall come 
upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his 
armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He 
that is not with me is against me ; and he that gathereth 
not with me scattereth. 

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and 
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men ; but the blasphemy 
against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it 
shall be forgiven him ; but whosoever speaketh against 
the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in 
this world, neither in the world to come. 

And when the people were gathered thick together, 
he began to say, This is an evil generation : they seek 
a sign ; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign 
of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the 
Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this gene¬ 
ration. 

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judg¬ 
ment with the men of this generation, and condemn 
them ; for she came from the utmost parts of the earth, 
to bear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater 

G g2 






366 


the biblical reader 


than Solomon is here 1 The men of Nineveh shall rise up 
in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn 
it: for they repented at the preaching ol Jonas ; and, be- 
hold, a greater than Jonas is here. 

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it 
in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a can¬ 
dlestick, that they which come in may see the light. 
The light of the body is the eye : therefore when thine 
eve is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but 
when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 
Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in thee be 
not darkness. If thy whole body, therefore, be full of 
light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of 
light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give 
thee light. 

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he 
walketh through dry places, seeking rest: and finding 
none, he saith, 1 will return unto my house whence I 
came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept 
and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven 
other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter 
in, and dwell there : and the last state of that man is 
worse than the first. 

QUESTIONS. 

Of what did the Pharisees accuse Christ, when he wrought mira¬ 
cles P-What answer did lie make to them ?-What did lie say 

concerning the sin against the Holy Ghost ?-What did he say 

concerning the men of Nineveh ?-What concerning the wisdom 

of Solomon ? 


Practical Observations. 

If the sin against the Holy Ghost be of so high a nature, and so 
unpardonable, as represented by our Saviour, in this chapter, then 
must all approaches to it be very dreadful; such as profane scoffing 
at religion, and the Holy Spirit of God, which dwells in good men ; 
perverse infidelity notwithstanding all reasonable evidence ; obsti¬ 
nacy in a sinful and vicious eourse ; sinning against the clear con¬ 
victions of our consciences. These are all offences of a flagrant 
character, and of great provocation in the sight of God ; and, if 
they be long continued, we know not how soon God may withdraw 
his grace from us, and suffer us to be hardened through the deceitful¬ 
ness of sin. 

CHAP. CXC. 

Regard of our Saviour for his Disciples ; and he denoun¬ 
ces IVoes against the Pharisees , Scribes , and Teachers of 
the Law. From the twelfth Chapter of Matthew , and 
the eleventh Chapter of Luke. 

■While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother 
and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


367 


him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and. 
thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is 
my mother ? And who are my brethren P And he stretch¬ 
ed forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold 
my mother and my brethren 1 For whosoever shall do 
the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my 
brother, and sister, and mother. 

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to 
dine with him : and he went in and sat down to meat. 
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had 
not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto 
him, now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the 
cup and the platter ; but your inward part is full of 
ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that 
made that which is without, make that which is within 
also ? But rather give alms of such things as ye have 5 
and behold, all things are clean unto you. But wo unto 
you, Pharisees ! for ye tithe mint, and rue, and all man¬ 
ner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of 
God : these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the 
other undone. Wo unto you, Pharisees ! for ye love 
the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in 
the markets. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hyp¬ 
ocrites ! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the 
men that walk over them are not aware of them. 

Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him. 
Master, thus saying, thou reproaehest us also. And he 
said, wo unto you also, ye lawyers ! for ye lade men 
with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves 
touch not the burdens with one of your fingers, Wo 
unto you ! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, 
and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness, 
that ye allow the deeds of your fathers : for they indeed 
killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. Therefore 
also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets 
and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and per¬ 
secute : that the blood of all the prophets, which was 
shed from the foundation of the world, may be required 
of this generation ; from the blood of Abel unto the 
blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and 
the temple : verily I say unto you, it shall be required 
of this generation. Wo unto you, lawyers ! for ye 
have taken away the key of knowledge : ye entered not 
iii yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hinder* 


368 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ed. And as he said these things unto them, the Scribes 
and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to 
provoke him to speak of many things ; laying wait for 
him, and seeking to catch something out ol his mouth, 
that they might accuse him. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Christ say when told of his mother and brethren ?-On 

what occasion did he reprove the pharisees and scribes ?-What led 

to his reproving them ?-What did they do when thus reproved ? 


Practical Observations. 

What encouragement does our Redeemer give us to follow him 
wholly, to attend on his instruction, to trust in his mercy, and by 
obeying him, to do the will of God our Father! Earthly relatives 
often fail of the duties incumbent upon them : but He is such a re¬ 
lation and friend as men would have been, had sin never entered: 
indeed farmoie desirable. Whatever there is peculiar in the affec¬ 
tion or regard of the different endeared relations of life, all centres in 
the love of Christ to his true disciples ; yea, to the poorest, weakest, 
and most sinful of them ! whatever credit, comfort, or advantage 
could be derived from a loving brother, father, husband or son, who 
was advanced to the highest state of earthly dignity and authority, 
this, and far more, may we confidently expect from Christ, in life, 
death, judgment and to eternity. Let us then cease from men, and 
cleave to him ; let us look upon every Christian, even in the lowest 
condition of life, as the brother, sister, or honoured mother of the 
Lord of glory, and let us love, respect, and be kind to them for his 
sake, and after his example, and count this our privilege and delight. 

CHAP. CXCI. 

Jesus instructs his Disciples and the Multitude. From 

the twelfth Chapter of Luke. 

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an 
innumerable multitude of people, he began to say unto ins 
disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the 
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing 
covered, that shall not be revealed : neither hid, that 
shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have 
spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light ; and 
that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be 
proclaimed upon the house-tops. And I say unto you, 
my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and 
after that, have no more that they can do. But fear him, 
which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell ; 
yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold 
for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten be- 






THE BIBLICAL READER* 369 

fore God ? But even the very hairs of your head are all 
numbered. Fear not therefore : ye are of more value 
than many sparrows. 

Also [ say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me 
before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before 
the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men, 
shall be denied before the angels of God. And when 
they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magis¬ 
trates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing 
ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy 
Ghost shall teach you in the same hourwhatye oughttosay. 

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of 
covetousness : for a man’s life consisteth not in the 
abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he 
spake a parable unto them, saying. The ground of a cer¬ 
tain rich man brought forth plentifully ; and he thought 
within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have 
no room where to bestow my fruits ? And he said, This 
will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build 
greater $ and there will I bestow all my fruits and my 
goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast 
much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, 
drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou 
fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee : then 
whose shall those things be which thou hast provided ? 
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not 
rich towards God. 

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto 
you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat ; 
neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is 
more than meat, and the body is more than raiment* 
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap : 
which neither have store-house, nor barn ; and God feed- 
eth them : How much more are ye better than the fowls ? 
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stat¬ 
ure one cubit ? If ye then be not able to do that thing which 
is least, why take ye thought for the rest ? Consider the 
lilies how they grow : They toil not, they spin not ; and 
yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not 
arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the 
grass, which is to day in the field, and to-morrow is cast 
into the oven ; how much more will lie clothe you, O ye 
of little faith? Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye 
have need of these things. 

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all 
these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little 





370 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER* 


flock ; for it is jour Father’s good pleasure to give you 
the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms : pro¬ 
vide yourselves with bags which wax not old, a treasure 
in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approach- 
eth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure 
is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be 
girded about, and your lights burning ; and ye your¬ 
selves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he 
will return from the wedding ; that, when he cometh and 
knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed 
are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall 
find watching : verily 1 say unto you, that he shall gird 
himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will 
come forth and serve them.. And if lie shall come in 
the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find 
the i so, blessed are those servants. And this know, 
that if the good man of the house had known what hour 
the thief would come, he would have watched, and not 
have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye 
therefore ready also ; for the Son of Man cometh at an 
hour when ye think not. 

Then Peter said unto him. Lord, speakest thou this 
parable unto us, or even to all P And the Lord said, 
Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his 
lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them 
their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that ser¬ 
vant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 
Of a truth I say unto you, That he will make him ruler 
overall that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, 
My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat 
the men-servants, and maidens, and to eat and drink, 
and to be drunken ; the Lord of that servant will come 
in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour 
when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and 
will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And 
that servant which knew his lord’s will, and prepared 
not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be 
beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and 
did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with 
few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him 
shall be much required ; and to whom men have commit¬ 
ted much, of him they will ask the more. 

QUESTIONS. 

To whom were the instructions of this chapter given ?-What 

did our Saviour say about fearing those who can kill the body?-What 

was his parable of the rich man?-How did he show the folly of 

taking anxious thought for the future ?-What did he tell them to 

seek first ? 










Practical Observations. 

We suppose that happineSvS consists in indulging each gay and 
florid fancy, each fond and effeminate desire, each dear conceit that 
rises uppermost in our minds when our spirits run high ; and it this 
were true, it would follow undoubtedly, that an affluence was nec¬ 
essary to happiness. But God, who sees not as we see, knows that 
happiness is produced by correcting our vain imaginations, by dis¬ 
ciplining our passions, and by bringing us to a just sense of himself, 
ol ourselves, and every thing else that concerns us. And let us co¬ 
operate with the Deity ; let us look into our own hearts. 

You must form a true relish of life, just as you would do of painting. 
You must not suffer your eye to be captivated by gay, glossy colour¬ 
ings, by gaudy and ambitious ornaments, however they may strike or 
dazzle you for awhile. However wisely and industriously you may 
pursue wealth, honour, or power, you can never be secure against a 
disappointment. There is one pursuit in which you can meet with 
no disappointment, and that is the pursuit of virtue; since every 
honest and spirited endeavour after virtue, is virtue in some degree, 
which if we do not slacken our endeavours, will lead on to a greater, 
till our goodness ‘ shines more and more unto a perfect day.’ 

'CHAP. CXCII. 

The Calamities of certain Galileans a warning to the Jews* 
From the thirteenth Chapter of Luke. 

There were present at that season some that told him 
of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with 
their sacrifices. And Jesus answering, said unto them. 
Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all 
the Galileans, because they suffered such things ? I tell 
you. Nay ; but except yc repent, ye shall all likewise 

f ierish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Si- 
oam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners 
above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ? I tell you, Nay ; 
but, except ye repent, ye shail all likewise perish. 

He spake also this parable : A certain man had a fig- 
tree planted in his vineyard ; and he came and sought 
fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the 
dresser of his vineyard. Behold, these three years I come 
seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down ; 
why cumbereth it the ground ? And he answering, said 
unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till 1 shall 
dig about it, and dung it : and if it bear fruit, well : and 
if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. 


Practical Observations. 

It behooves every one of us to inquire how long we have been fa¬ 
voured with the means of grace, and been borne willi by the long 
suffering of God, and to examine whether we be now bearing fruit t<* 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


S72 

his glory and the good of men, or be still mere cumberers of the 
ground ? Such inquiries are peculiarly proper to be made at the be¬ 
ginning of a new year, or the return of any other periodical season. 
And when any are restored from sickness, and spared a little longer, 
in answer to the prayers of ministers or Christian friends, surely they 
should take their admonitions in good part, and seek to profit by 
their endeavours, remembering how short their respite may be, and 
how soon they may be cut down if not at length rendered fruitful. 


CHAP. CXCIII. 

The Parables of the Sower , of the Wheat and Tares , of 
the hid Treasure , of the goodly Pearls , and of the Net 
cast into the Sea. From the thirteenth Chapter of 
Matthew. 

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by 
the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered togeth¬ 
er unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat ; and the 
whole multitude stood on the shore. Anti he spake many 
things unto them in parables, saying. Behold, a sower 
went forth to sow. And when he sowed, some seeds fell 
by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them 
up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not 
much earth ; and forthwith they sprung up, because they 
had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, 
they w ere scorched ; and because they had no root, they 
withered away. And some fell among thorns ; and the 
thorns sprung up, and choked them : But other fell into 
good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred¬ 
fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. Who hath ears 
to hear, let him hear. 

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speak- 
est thou unto them in parables ? He answered and said 
unto them. Because it is given unto you to know the mys¬ 
teries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not 
given. Therefore speak 1 to them in parables : because 
they se ‘ing see not ; and hearing they hear not, neither 
do they understand. For this people's heart is waxed 
gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes 
they have closed : lest at any time they should see with 
their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should under¬ 
stand with their heart, and should be converted, and I 
should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, lor they 
see : and your ears, for they hear. For verily 1 say unto 
youp that many prophets and righteous men have desired 


I 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


373 


to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them ; 
and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not 
heard them. 

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When 
any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and under- 
standeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth 
away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which 
received seed by the way side. But he that received the 
seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the 
word, and anon with joy receiveth it : Yet hath he not 
root in himself, but dureth for a while : for when tribula¬ 
tion or persecution ariseth because of the word*, by and 
by he is offended. He also that receiveth seed among 
the thorns is he that heareth the word ; and the care of 
this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, 
and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed 
into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and 
understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth 
forth, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty. 

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying. The 
kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed 
good seed in his field : But while men slept, his enemy 
came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his 
way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought 
forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants 
of the house-holder came and said unto him, Sir, didst 
not thou sow good seed in thy field ? from whence then 
hath it tares ? He said unto them, An enemy hath done 
this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that 
we go and gather them up ? But he said, Nay ; lest while 
ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with 
them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in 
the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye 
together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn 
them : but gather the wheat into my barn. 

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into 
the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, De¬ 
clare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He 
answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good 
seed is the Son of Man ; the field is the world $ the good 
seed are the children of the kingdom ; but the tares are the 
children of the wicked one ; the enemy that sowed them is 
the devil $ the harvest is the end of the world ; and the 
reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gath- 

H H 





374 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ered and burned in the fire ; so shall it be in the end of 
this world. The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, 
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that of¬ 
fend, and them which do iniquity ; and shall cast them into 
a furnace of fire : there shall be wailing and gnashing of 
teeth. Then shall the righteous shine lorth as the sun in 
the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let 
him hear. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid 
in a field ; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, 
and for joy thereof goeth and selleth ail that he hath, and 
buyeth that field. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant 
man seeking goodly pearls ? Who, when he had found 
one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, 
and bought it 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that 
was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind : 
which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat 
down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the 
bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world : the 
angels shall come forth, andseverthe wicked from among 
the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire : there 
shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto 
them, Have ye understood all these things P They say 
unto him, Yea, Lord. 

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these 
parables, he departed thence And when he was come 
into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, 
insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence 
hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works ? Is 
not. this the carpenter’s son ? is not his mother called 
Mary ? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, 
and Judas P and his sisters, are they not all with us ? 
Whence then hath this man all these things ? And they 
were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A 
prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, 
and in his own house. And he did not many mighty 
works there, because of their unbelief, 


Practical Observations. 

It is proper to observe in general upon the parables in this chapter, 
and in several other places in the gospel, that our Lord used, in his 
teaching, to make use of parables and similitudes ; and that his discL 
pies and people might remember them the better, he drew them from 






f 





\ 





Christ cures the blind man ....Page 390. 































*TME BIBLICAL READER. 


375 


the plainest and most familiar subjects. These parables were of two. 
kinds. Some were clear, and others somewhat obscure. These last 
Jesus made use of, when he was speaking of some points which his 
hearers were not at that time able to comprehend, and which he did 
not think fit to declare openly before his death. Such are the para¬ 
bles which foretold his being put to death, the rejection of the Jews, 
and the calling of the Gentiles in their stead. These truths he repre¬ 
sented by images and similitudes, very plain and easy to be remem¬ 
bered, and which in a short time would, by the event, be made per¬ 
fectly clear and intelligible. 


4««* 


CHAP. CXCIY. 

Jesus gives Commandment to cross the Sea of Galilee4 
Incidents on the Way; a Tempest stilled , and a De- 
moniack healed. From the eighth and ninth Chapters 
of Luke , and the fourth and fifth Chapters of Mark. 

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that Jesus said 
unto his disciples, Let us go over unto the other side of 
the lake. And as they went in the way, a certain man 
said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever 
thou goest. 

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds 
of the air have nests ; but the Son of Man hath not 
where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Fol¬ 
low me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and 
bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury 
their dead : but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee ; but let 
me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my 
house. And Jesus said unto him, No man having put 
his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the\ 
kingdom of God. 

And when they had sent away the multitude, they 
took him even as he was in the ship. And there were 
also with him other little ships. And there arose a 
great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so 
that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of 
the ship, asleep on a pillow ; and they awake him, and 
say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish ? 
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the 
sea. Peace, be still : and the wind ceased, and there was 
a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so 
fearful ? how is it that ye have no faith ? And they feared 
exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner ot 
man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him ? 







376 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And they came over unto the other side of the sea* 
into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was 
come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of 
the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his 
dwelling among the tombs ; and no man could bind him, 
no, not with chains: because that he had been often 
bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been 
plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in 
pieces : neither could any man tame him. And always, 
night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the 
tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But 
when he saw Jesus afar off*, he ran and worshipped him. 
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to 
do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God ? I 
adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (For he 
said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.) 
And he asked him, What is thy name ? And he answer¬ 
ed, saying, My name is Legion : for we are many. And 
he besought him much that he would not send them away 
out of the country. 

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great 
herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, 
saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into 
them. Forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the un¬ 
clean spirits went out, and entered into the swine; and 
the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, 
(they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea. 
They that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and 
in the country. And they went out to see what it was 
that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him 
that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, 
sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they 
were afraid. 

They that saw it told them how it befel to him that 
was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the 
swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of 
their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he 
that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that 
he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, 
but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them 
how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath 
had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began 
to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done 
for him. And all men did marvel. 



IfliE BIBLICAL READER. 


377 


QUESTIONS. 

What did a certain man say to Jesus when on the way from Ca¬ 
pernaum to the sea of Galilee ?--What miracle was performed 

when crossing the sea ?-To what place did he come on having 

crossed the sea ?-By whom was he then met ? •■■■■ What miracle 

did lie there perform ? 


Practical Observations. 

Every miraculous relief, afforded by our Saviour when on earth to 
his disciples and those who applied to him for help, is an encouragement 
to us, under all circumstances, to make our own wants known to him. 
Although now in heaven, his omniscient eye ever beholds the vari¬ 
ous operations of this lower world. He knows all the sorrows and 
straits of his friends ; and his hand is ever ready to extend the salva¬ 
tion needed. If he would calm an ocean tumultuous and ready to 
swallow up his disciples and the bark which contained them, will he 
not deliver us, whenever conducive to our real benefit, from those 
evils which seem the common lot of Christians in this life, whether 
of sickness, or of poverty, or of persecution, provided we repair to 
him in faith, in love, and in prayer ? If he would then deliver a per¬ 
son from a demonical spirit, will he not now deliver his sincere fol¬ 
lowers from that spirit of moral defilement and unsanctified nature, 
with which the Christian is ever in conflict, and enable them to be¬ 
come conquerors and more than conquerors through the strength of 
that grace which is given for the regeneration of the world ? 


CHAP. CXCV. 

LevVs Feast; the Discourse of Jesus at that Time; the 
Daughter of Jairus restored. From the fifth and 
eighth Chapters of Luke, and the second and fifth Chap¬ 
ters of Mark. 

And it came to pass when Jesus was returned, (to Ca¬ 
pernaum) the people gladly received him, for they were 
all waiting for him. And Levi made him a great feast. 
As Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and 
sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples ; 
for there were many, and they followed him. And 
when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publi¬ 
cans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it, 
that he eateth and drmketh with publicans and sinners ? 
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are 
whole have no need of the physician, but they that are 
sick—l came not to call the righteous, but sinners to 

16 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to 
fast ; and they come and say unto him, Why do the 
disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disci- 

Hh2 









378 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


pies fast not ? Jesus sairl unto them, Can the children 
of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with 
them ? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, 
they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the 
bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then 
shall they fast in those days. No man also seweth a 
piece of new cloth on an old garment—else the new piece 
that filled it up, taketh away from the old, and the rent 
is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old 
bottles ; else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and 
the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred—but 
new wine must be put into new bottles. 

Behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the syna¬ 
gogue, Jairus by name ; and when he saw him, he fell at 
his feet, and besought him greatly, saying. My little 
daughter lieth at the point of death : I pray thee, come 
and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed f 
and she shall live. Then Jesus went with him ; and 
much people followed him, and thronged him. And a 
certain woman which had an infirmity, and had suffered 
many things of many physicians, and had spent all that, 
she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew 
worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press 
behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I 
may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And 
straightway she felt in her body that she was healed. 

Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had 
gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said. 
Who touched my clothes ? His disciples said unto him. 
Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayestthou. 
Who touched me ? And he looked round about to see 
her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing 
and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and 
fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And 
he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee 
whole ; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the 
synagogue’s house certain which said. Thy daughter is 
dead ;• why troubles* thou the Master any further ? As 
soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saitli 
unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only be¬ 
lieve. And he suffered no man to follow him, save 
Teter, and James, and John the brother of James. He 
cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and 
£eeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly* 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


3 79 


And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why 
make ye this ado, and weep ? the damsel is not dead, 
but sleepeth. 

And they laughed him to scorn : but when he had put 
them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the 
damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in 
where the damsel was lying. He then took the damsel 
by the hand, and said unto her, TalithaCumi: which is, 
being interpreted, Damsel, (l say unto thee) arise. And 
straightway the damsel arose, and walked : for she was 
of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished 
with a great astonishment. And he charged them 
straitly that no man should know it$ and commanded 
that something should be given her to eat. 

i 

QUESTIONS. 

What fault did the scribes and Pharisees find with Jesus, at the 

feast of Levi ?-What answer did lie make ?-What did lie say 

to the woman who was healed by touching his clothes ?-W hat 

other miracle is mentioned in the latter part of this chapter ?_ 

What did he say to the damsel when she was restored to life ? 


Practical Observations. 

Our blessed Lord will not obtrude himself on those who are not 
disposed to entertain him ; nor refuse his presence and salvation to 
any, whose hearts are prepared to welcome him. The feeling of 
distress, for which men can obtain no adequate remedy from them¬ 
selves or others, is frequently the means of bringing them to Christ } 
and thus severe family-trials are sometimes appointed in love, to 
show those in affluence the vanity of their distinctions ; and so lead 
them to inquire after a better portion and a spiritual salvation. The 
history of his life is an account of his continuance in doing good, 
without weariness or intermission ; so that we know not whether 
we should most admire his divine power, or his beneficent use of it: 
and whilst we derive encouragement from this reflection, let us learn 
to use our little ability in doing what we can to alleviate the mis¬ 
eries and promote the good of mankind. 


- ‘r - 


CHAP. CXCVl. 


Jesus heals two blind Men ; He casts out a dumb Spirit; 
the Pharisees again blaspheme ; Jesus again visits Naz¬ 
areth , and is again rejected there. From the ninth 
Chapter of Matthew and the sixth Chapter of Mark. 

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men follow¬ 
ed him, crying, and saying Thou Son of David, have 
mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, 
the blind men came to him; and Jesus saith unto them. 






380 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Believe ye that I am able to do this ? They said unto him. 
Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, Accord¬ 
ing to your faith, be it unto you. And their eyes were 
opened ; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See 
that no man know it. But they, when they were depart¬ 
ed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb 
man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was 
cast out the dumb spake : and the multitudes marvelled, 
saying. It was never so seen in Israel. But the Phari¬ 
sees said, Ke casteth out devils, through the prince of 
the devils. 

And he went out from thence, and came into his 
own country Nazareth ; and his disciples follow him. 
When the sabbath-day was come, he began to teach 
in the synagogue : and many hearing him were astonish¬ 
ed, saying, From whence hath this man these things P 
and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that 
even such mighty works are wrought by his hands ? Is 
not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of 
James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not 
his sisters here with us ? And they were offended at him. 

But Jesus said unto them, a prophet is not without 
honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, 
and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty 
work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, 
and healed them. And he marvelled because of their 
unbelief. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did the two blind men say to Jesus when they followed him ? 

•-What did he say to them on restoring their sight ?-What 

other miracle mentioned in this chapter did he perform ?-What 

did Jesus say to those who doubted his divine authority after he 
was returned to Nazareth ? 


Practical Observations. 

Let sinners copy the example of these blind men ; let them stand 
before the Son of David, though they cannot behold him ; and let 
them beseech him to have mercy upon them, and open their eyes to 
see his glory and preciousness, his truth and will : let them persist in 
following him with their entreaties, and in due time he will notice 
and help them. In this and every other respect, we need to cry unto 
him daily to increase our faith ; that we may believe assuredly that 
he is both able and willing to do every thing for us, which pertains 
to our salvation. If faith be not wanting in us, love and power will 
not be found wanting in him : but he will say, “ according to your 
faith be it unto you,” and we shall be sent forth as it were, to pro¬ 
claim “ his praises, who hath called us out of darkness into his 
marvellous light.” 





THE BIBLICAL READER# 


381 


CHAP. CXCVII. 

Jesus instructs and sends forth his twelve Apostles. From 
the ninth a nd tenth Chapters of Matthew. 

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with 
compassion on them, because they fainted, and were 
scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then 
saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plente¬ 
ous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the 
Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers 
into his harvest. 

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, 
he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast 
them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and 
all manner of disease. And commanded them, saying. 
Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of 
the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost 
sheep of the house of Israel. As ye go, preach, saying, 
The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, 
cleanse the. lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils : freely 
ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor 
silver, nor brass in your purses ; nor scrip for your jour¬ 
ney, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves : 
for the workman is worthy of his meat. Into whatsoev** 
er city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is wor¬ 
thy, and there abide till ye go thence. When ye come 
into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, 
let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let 
your peace return to you. Whosoever shall not receive* 
you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that 
house, or city, shake oft* the dust of your feet. Verily, I 
say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of 
Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for 
that city. 

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of 
wolves : be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless 
as doves. But beware of men : for they will deliver you 
up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their 
synagogues. And ye shall be brought before governors 
and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and 
the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no 
thought how or what ye shall speak. For it shall be given you 
in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that 
speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in 
you. The brother shall deliver up the brother to death* 


382 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


and the father the child : and the children shall rise Up 
against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 
And ye shall be hated of ail men for my name’s sake : 
but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into 
another : for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have 
gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come. 
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant 
above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as 
his master, and the servant as his lord : if they have 
called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much 
more shall they call them of his household ? Fear them 
not therefore$ for there is nothing covered, that shall 
not be revealed, and hid, that shall not be known. 
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light ; and 
what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the house¬ 
tops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not 
able to kill the soul : but rather fear him which is able to 
destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of 
them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 
Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many 
sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before 
men, him will I confess also before my Father which is 
in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, 
him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 
He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not 
worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more 
than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not 
his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 
He that findeth his life shall lose it : and he that loseth 
his life for my sako, shall find it. 

He that receiveth you, receiveth m © 7 and he that 
receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. He that ve- 
ceiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive 
a prophet’s reward ; and he that receiveth a righteous 
man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a 
righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to 
drink unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water 
only, in the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, 
he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

QUESTIONS 

What induced our Saviour to send forth his apostles ?-Into 

what places did he direct them not to go ?-Where did he direct 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


383 


them to go ?-What did he say concerning those who should deny 

him ?-Concerning those who should love their earthly friends 

more than himself? 

— 

Practical Observations. 

In this discourse we have a strong proof of the divinity of the 
Christian religion, since the apostles who preached it, and those 
who first embraced it., were exposed to divers persecutions, and 
sealed the truth ot the gospel, and the sincerity of their own tes- 
i tunony, with then bicod. Lpon winch vve may make several useful 
reflections: that those who make profession of truth and piety, do 
often expose themselves to hatred and persecution, but that God as¬ 
sists them in a wonderful manner : that we should not fear men, who 
can only hurt our body ; but God alone, who can cast both body and 
soul into hell : that troubles and divisions often arise in the world 
on account of the gospel, but that this is entirely owing to the faults 
of men ; that Christians ought to be ready to renounce all that is 
dearest to them in this world, to follow Christ: and lastly, that our 
Lord will abundantly recompense the piety and charity of those that 
shall receive and assist his disciples. All these considerations serve 
to encourage us steadfastly and openly to profess the Christian relig¬ 
ion , to practise all its duties, and particularly to exercise works of 
charity with pleasure and perseverance, 

CXCVIII. 

Five thousand fed on five Locuves and two Fishes $ Jesus 
walks on the Sea. From the sixth Chapter of John and 
the fourteenth Chapter of Matthew. 

After these tiling Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, 
which i« the sea of i’tberias. And a great multitude fol¬ 
lowed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on 
them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a 
mountain, and there he sat oith his disciples. And the 
passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 

When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great 
company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence 
shall we buy bread that these may eat ? Philip answer¬ 
ed him, two hundred pennyworth of bread is not suffi¬ 
cient for them, th&t every one of them may take a little. 
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, 

- saith unto him, there is a lad here, which hath five bar¬ 
ley-loaves, and two small fishes : but what are they 
among so many? And Jesus said, make the men sit 
down. (Now there was much grass in the place.) So 
the men sat down in number about five thousand. And 
Jesus took the loaves ; and when he had given thanks, he 
distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that 
were set down $ and likewise of the fishes, as much as 










$84 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


they would. When they were filled, he said unto his dis¬ 
ciples, gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing 
be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and 
filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five bar¬ 
ley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that 
had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the 
miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that 
prophet that should come into the world. 

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come 
and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed 
again into a mountain himself alone. And when even 
w r as now come, his disciples went down unto the sea. And 
entered into a ship, and went over the sea towards Ca¬ 
pernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come 
to themi And the sea arose by reason of a great wind 
that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty 
or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and. 
drawing nigh unto the ship : and they were afraid. But 
he saith unto them, It is 1; be not afraid. 

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, 
bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. 
And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walk¬ 
ed on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the 
wind boisterous, he was afraid ; and beginning to sink, 
he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus 
stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto 
him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt P 
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, 
saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God. 

And when they were gone over, they came into the 
land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place 
had knowledge of him, they sent cut into all that country 
round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased s 
and besought him that they might only touch the hem of 
his garment: and as many as touched were made perfect¬ 
ly whole. 

QUESTIONS. 

Why did the multitude follow Jesus ?-What feast at that time 

was nigh at hand ?-What were the particulars of the five thousand 

being fed ?-What was said of Jesus, when this miracle was seen ? 

-What other miracle did Jesus perforin mentioned in this chap¬ 
ter?-What took place with Peter? r 

Practical Observations. 

The beneficence of cur Lord’s miracles concurred with the power of 
them, to convince the people that he was from God : and the same 
spirit of love displayed in our conduct, even amidst weakness and 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


385 


.poverty, will best adorn the gospel, evince its divine origin and ex- 
cellency, and conciliate the minds of men. If we copy the example 
of our Lord, in rendering hearty thanks to the Giver of all our tempo, 
ral comforts, and in dispensing them liberally to the indigent; our 
most frugal and homely meals will be far more comfortable and bless, 
that the most luxurious feast of ungodly men. 

This feeding of so vast a multitude, by a method altogether extra- 
ordinary and miraculous, should be used as a seasonable hint to 
make us duly consider and acknowledge that bounteous providence 
of God, which every day feeds numbers infinitely greater, in a most 
wonderlul, though ordinary manner. For what proportion do five 
thousand men bear to those numberless kindreds and countries that 
constantly subsist on bis liberality ? What is this one marvellous 
enlargement of five loaves and two fishes, to the inconceiveable pro¬ 
ductions of animals, the variety of plants and herbs, and other in¬ 
crease of the earth ; and the many unknown ways by which he opens 
his hand, and filleth all things living with plenteousness ? 

CHAP, cxcix. 


Christ's Discourse with the Multitude in Capernaum, in 

the Synagogue of that City , and with his Disciples . 

From the sixth Chapter of John. 

When the people saw that Jesus was not there, neither 
his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Caper¬ 
naum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him 
on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, 
when earnest thou hither ? Jesus answered them and said, 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because 
ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, 
and were filled. Labour not for the meat which per- 
isheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting 
life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you ; for him 
hath God the Father sealed. 

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that 
we might work the works of God ? Jesus answered and 
said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe 
on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto 
him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, 
and believe thee ? what dost thou work ? Our fathers did 
eat manna in the desert ; as it is written, He gave them 
bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that 
bread from heaven ; but my Father giveth you the true 
bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which 
cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the 
world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give 
ns this bread. 


I i 


386 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life : he that 
cometh to me, shall never hunger ; and he that believeth 
on me, shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye 
also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father 
giveth me, shall come to me : and him that cometh to 
me, I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from 
heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that 
sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent 
me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose 
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one 
which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have 
everlasting life : and I will raise him up at the last day. 

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, 
I am the bread which came down from heaven. And 
they said, Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose 
father and mother we know ? How is it then that he 
saith, I came down from heaven ? Jesus therefore an¬ 
swered and said unto them, Murmur not among vour- 
selves. No man can come to me, except the Father 
which hath sent me draw him : and I will raise him up 
at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they 
shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that 
hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto 
me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he 
which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, 
verily, 1 say unto you, He that believeth on me hath 
everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers 
did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is 
the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man 
may eat thereof and not die. I am the living bread 
which came down from heaven : if any man eat of this 
bread, he shall live forever : and the bread that I will 
give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the 
world. 

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, 
How can this man give us his flesh to eat P Then Jesus 
said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except 
ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, 
ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and 
drinketh my blood, hath eternal life ; and I will raise 
him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and 
my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and 
drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As 
the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, 

- - 




THE EIBLICAL READER. 


38 7 




so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is 
that bread which came down from heaven : not as your 
fathers did eat manna, and are dead : he that eateth of 
this bread shall live forever. 

These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in 
' Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they 
heard this, said, This is an hard saying ; who can hear 
it ? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples mur¬ 
mured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you ? 
W hat and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up 
where he was before ? It is the spirit that quickeneth ; 
the flesh profiteth nothing : the words that I speak unto 
you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there, are 
some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the 
beginning who they were that believed not, and who 
should betray him. And he said, Therefore said. I unto 
you, that no man can come unto me, except it were 
given unto him of my Father. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did the people say to Jesus when they foutid him at Caper 

naum ? -What was his first reply to them ?-What did he declare 

himself to be ?-What did his disciples say to this declaration ? 

Practical Observations. 

Our Lord’s general doctrine in this chapter seems to resolve itself 
into this ; that, whether with faith or without, whether in the sacra¬ 
ments or out of the sacraments whether before Christ, or since ; 
whether here or hereafter, no man ever was or will be ac¬ 
cepted, but in and through the grand propitiation made by the flesh 
and blood of Christ. This appears to be the main doctrine taught 
by our Lord in this chapter, which he delivers so earnestly, and in¬ 
culcates so strongly. Eating and drinking, by a very common 
figure, means receiving : and here what is the thing to be received ? 
Christ himself in his whole person : “ I am the bread of life j” “ he 
that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” But, more particularly, 
he is to be considered as giving his body to be broken, and his blood 
to be shed, for an atonement. And so the fruits of his death are 
what we are to receive as our spiritual food. His flesh is meat in¬ 
deed, and his blood is drink indeed. His passion is our redemption, 
and by his death we live. 

CHAP. CC. 

The Pharisees find fault at the Disciples for eating with 
unwashen Hands ; Christ’s Discourse upon the Subject; 
He heals the Syrophcenician’s Daughter , also one that was 
deaf From the seventh Chapter of Mark , and the fif¬ 
teenth Chapter of Matthew. 

Then came together unto Jesus the Pharisees, and cer¬ 
tain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And 






THfe RiBLICAL READfeR. 


S&8 

when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled 
(that is to say with unwashen) hands, they found fault. 
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash 
their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the 
ciders. And when they come from the market, except 
they wash* they eat not. And many other things there 
be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of 
cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and of tables. Then 
the Pharisees and scribes asked him, why walk not thy 
disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but 
cat bread with unwashen hands ? 

He answered and said unto them, well hath Esaia» 
prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This peo¬ 
ple honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far 
from me. Howbeit, in vain d 6 they worship me, teach¬ 
ing for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying 
aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of 
men, as the washing of pots and cups : and many other 
such like things ye do. 

And when he had called all the people unto him, he 
Said unto them, hearken unto me every one of you, and 
understand. There is nothing from without a man, that 
entering into him, can defile him : but the things which 
come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If 
any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he 
was entered into the house from the people, his disciples 
asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto 
them, are ye so without understanding also ? Do ye not 
perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth 
into the man, it cannot defile him : but that which com- 
eth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from with¬ 
in, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adul¬ 
teries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wick¬ 
edness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, 
pride, foolishness ; all these evil things come from within, 
and defile the man. 

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders 
of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and 
would have no man know it : but he could not be hid. 
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an un- 
dean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet : 
(the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation,) 
and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil 
out ol her daughter. But he answered her not a word. 
Aoid his disciples came and besought him, saying, send her 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


389 


Sway ; for she crieth after us. But he answered and 
said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house 
of Israel. But Jesus said unto her, let the children 
first be filled : for it is not meet to take the children’s 
bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answer¬ 
ed and said unto him, Yes, Lord : yet the dogs under 
the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said 
unto her, for this saying, go thy way ; the devil is 
gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to 
her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter 
laid upon the bed. 

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and 
Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the 
midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto 
him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his 
speech ; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his 
fingers into his ears, and he spit and touched his tongue. 
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, 
Ephphatha, that is, be opened. And straightway his 
ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, 
and he spake plain. And he charged them that they 
should tell no man : but the more he charged them, so 
much the more a great deal they published it ; and were 
beyond measure astonished, saying, he hath done all 
things well ; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the 
dumb to speak. And great multitudes came unto him, 
having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, 
maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ 
feet ; and he healed them : insomuch that the multitude 
wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed 
to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see : and 
they glorified the God of Israel. 

*. 

QUESTIONS. 

What practice prevailed among the Jews concerning eating, men¬ 
tioned in this chapter ?-On vvliat account did the Pharisees find 

fault with the disciples of Christ ?-What parable is contained in 

this chapter ? -What two miracles are recorded P 

Practical Observations. 

We ought to take particular notice of the miracle which Christ 
wrought on healing the daughter of a Canaanitish woman. He re¬ 
fused at first to cure her, because her mother was a Gentile. His rea¬ 
son for so doing was, not only by that means to excite the zeal of 
that woman, but likewise because the time was not yet come in 
which the Gentiles were to be called; and because that during his stay 
upon earth, he wrought miracles only among the Jews. But seeing 









390 


tHE BIBLICAL READER* 


her perseverance and great humility, he did at last what she desired 
of him. By this example vve may observe, that prayers made with 
faith, humility and perseverance, are very acceptable to God and 
very powerful ; that if God does not hear us at first, it is to try us to 
encourage our zeal, and to render us more sensible of our own un¬ 
worthiness. 

-***###+»•■* 

CHAP. CCI. 

The Disciples are cautioned against the Leaven of the 
Pharisees , of the Sadduces , and of Herod ; Jesus 
restores a blind Man to Sight near Bethsaida; Peter 
repeats his Confession that Jesus was the Christ ; Jesus 
foretells his Sufferings and Resurrection ; Rebukes 
Peter; and exhorts all to self-denial. From the eighth 
Chapter of Mark and the sixteenth Chapter of Mat¬ 
thew. 

And Jesus left them, (the multitude f) and entering into 
the ship again, he departed to the other side. Now the 
disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in 
the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged 
them, saying, take heed, beware of the leaven of the 
Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they rea¬ 
soned among themselves, saying, it is because we have no 
bread. And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, 
why reason ye, because ye have no bread ? Perceive ye 
not yet, neither understand ? Have ye your hearts yet 
hardened ? Having eyes, see ye not ? And having ears, 
hear ye not ? And do ye not remember ? When I brake 
the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full 
of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, twelve. 
And when the seven among four thousand, how many 
baskets full'of fragments took ye up ? And they said, 
seven. And he said unto them, how is it that ye do not 
understand P 

And he cometh to Bethsaida ; and they bring a blind 
man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he 
took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the 
town : and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his 
hands upon him, he asked him he if saw aught. And he 
looked up, and said, I see men as trees walking. After 
that, he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made 
him look up : and he was restored and saw every man 
clearly. And he sent him away to his house, savino*, 
neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. ° 
When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesare'a Philippi,- 


THE BIBLICAL REA»ER, 


391 


he asked his disciples* saying, Whom do men say that I, 
the Son of Man, am ? And they said, some say that thou 
art John the Baptist t some Elias •, and others, Jeremias, 
or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, but whom 
say ye that I am ? And Simon Peter answered and said. 
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And 
Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou Simon- 
Bar-jona $ for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto 
thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also 
unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will 
build my church : and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the king¬ 
dom of heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth y 
shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt 
loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged 
he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was 
Jesus the Christ. 

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his dis¬ 
ciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and sulfer 
many things of the elders and chief priests, and scribes, 
and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then 
Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it 
far from thee, Lord : this shall not be unto thee. But he 
turned, and said unto Peter, get thee behind me, Satan : 
thou art an offence unto me : for thou savourest not the 
things that be of God, but those that be of men. 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will 
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his 
cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, 
shall lose it ; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake 
shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain 
the whole world, and lose his own soul ? Or what shall 
a man give in exchange for his soul P For the Son of 
Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his 
angels ; and then he shall reward every man according 
to his works. Verily I say unto you, there be some 
standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see 
the Son'of Man coming in his kingdom. 

QUESTIONS. 

Of what did Christ in this chapter tell his disciples to beware ?- 

How did he explain this ?--What miracle is here recorded P- 

What did he ask his disciples when became to Cesare'a Philippi ? 

_What promise did he make to Peter ?-What prediction did 

he make concerning himself? 



39:2 


TIIE BTBLtCAL READER. 


Practical Observations. 

The self-denial which our Saviour claims from his disciples is 
nothing more than a willingness to part with all earthly comforts and 
conveniences, to quit all our temporal interests and enjoyments, and 
even life itself, for the sake of him and his. And lie who commands 
us to perform this duty, hath hhnself in his own person given us the 
greatest example of self-denial, in that he denied himself more, and 
suffered more grievous things than any of us can do. He under¬ 
went more affliction, and had more contempt poured upon him, than 
ever was upon any of the sons of men ; and yet he endured all this 
with incredible patience and meekness, with the greatest evenness 
and -constancy of mind, and with the most perfect submission and 
resignation of himself to the will of God. If then he thus denied 
himself, well may we, who have much less to deny, but much more 
cause and reason for it. He did it voluntarily and of choice, but it 
is our duty. He did it for our sakes, we do it for our own. 




CHAP. CCIL 

Christ’s Transfiguration; His Discourse with the three 
Disciples as they were descending from the Mount; 
He casts out a Deaf and Dumb Spirit. From the 
ninth Chapter of Luke , and the seventeenth Chapter of 
Matthew. 

And it came to pass, about an eight days after, 
Jesus took Peter, and John, and James, and went 
up into a mountain to pray. And as lie prayed, 
the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his rai* 
ment was white and glistering. And behold, there talk¬ 
ed with him two men, which were Moses and Elias : 
who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which 
he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they 
that were with him were heavy with sleep : and when 
they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men 
that stood with him. 

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter 
said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here : 
and let us make three tabernacles ; one for thee, and one 
for Moses, and one for Elias; not knowing what he 
said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and 
overshadowed them : and they feared as they entered 
into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the 
cloud, saying. This is my beloved Son: hear him. And 
when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And 
they kept, it close, and told no man in those days any of 
those things which they had seen. 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


393 


Anil when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw* no 
man, save Jesus only. And his disciples asked him, say¬ 
ing, Why then say the scribes, that Elias must first come ? 
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly 
shall first come, and restore all things: but I say unto 
you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, 
but have done unto him whatsoever they listed: likewise 
shall also the Son of Man suffer of them. Then the dis¬ 
ciples understood that he spake unto them of John the 
Baptist. 

On the next day, when they were come down from 
the hill, much people met him. And behold, a man of 
the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee 
look upon my son : for he is mine only child. And lo, a 
spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crietii out : and it 
teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him, 
hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disci¬ 
ples to cast him out, and they could not. Anil Jesus 
answering, said, O faithless generation, and perverse, 
how long shall I be with you, and suffer you ? Bring thy 
son hither. And as he was yet a coming, the devil 
threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the 
unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him. 
again to his father. 

QUESTIONS. 

Which three disciples were with Jesus at this time ?-What took 

place when they were upon the Mount ?-What was said by the 

voice that came out of the cloud P -What miracle did he then 

perform ? 


Practical Observations. 

To form some faint conception of the Redeemer’s glory now in 
heaven, and at his future appearance to judge the world, let us con¬ 
template him upon the Mount, when the fashion of his countenance 
was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. With this 
scene before our eyes, we may meditate to advantage on “ his de¬ 
cease which he accomplished at Jerusalemand thence follow 
him with our thoughts to his present exaltation in heaven, where he 
is surrounded with his saints, who there appear with him in glory 
and expatiate In Ids piaiaea. This may reconcile ua to our present 
trials, arid prepare us for the stroke of death; that we may go to 
behold and share that glory, one glimpse of which hath sometimes 
made us say, “ It is good for us to be here.” But we must now 
walk by faith, and hear obediently the words of the beloved Son of 
God; treasuring up every comfortable experience of his love, and 
every discovery of his majesty and exsellency, to bo #ur support in 
the days of darkness 









394 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. CCIII. 

The Disciples contend who should be greatest. Jesus ’ 
Conduct and Discourse on that Occasion. From the 
ninth Chapter of Mark, and the eighteenth Chapter of 
Matthew. 

And Jesus came to Capernaum : and being in the house, 
he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among your¬ 
selves by the way ? But they held their peace : for by 
the way they had disputed among themselves who should 
be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the 
twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be 
first, the same shall be last of all, and servant ot all. 
And he took a child, and set him in the midst ot them : 
and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto 
them, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and 
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the 
kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble 
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the 
kingdom of heaven ; and whosoever shall receive one ot 
such children in my name, receiveth me : and whosoever 
shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 

And John answered him, saying, Master, we Saw ens 
casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us : 
and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Je¬ 
sus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall 
do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of 
me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For 
whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my 
name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, 
he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall 
offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is 
better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his 
neck, and he were cast into the sea. 

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for 
thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to 
go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched ; 
where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for 
thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast 
into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched ; 
where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quench¬ 
ed. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is 
better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with 
one eye, than having two eyes to be cast in hell fire % 


I 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


395 


where their worm diethnot, and the five is not quenched. 
For every one shall be salted with lire, and every sacri¬ 
fice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good : but if the 
salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it ? 
Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with an¬ 
other. 

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; 
for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always 
behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For 
the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. 
How think ye ? If a man have an hundred sheep, and 
one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety 
and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh 
that which is gone astray ? And if so be that he find it, 
verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, 
than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even 
so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, 
that one of these little ones should perish. 

Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, 
go and tell him his fault betw r een thee and him alone ; if 
he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he 
will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, 
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word 
may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear 
them, tell it unto the church : but if he neglect to hear 
the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a 
publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall 
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever 
ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again 
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as 
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done 
for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where 
two or three are gathered together in my name, there 
am I in the midst of them. 

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall 
my brother sin against me, and I forgive him ? till seven 
times ? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, 
Until seven times ; but until seventy times seven. 

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a 
certain king, which w ould take account of his servants. 
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto 
him which owed him ten thousand talents : but foras¬ 
much as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to 
be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, 
and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell 






396 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience 
with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that 
servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and 
forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, 
and found one of his fellow servants which owed him an 
hundred pence $ and he laid hands on him, and took him 
by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his 
fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, 
saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 
And he would not ; but went and cast him into prison, 
till he should pay the debt. 

So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they 
were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that 
was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, 
said unto him, 0 thou wicked servant ! I forgave thee all 
that debt, because thou desiredst me : shouldstnot thou 
also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as 
I had pity on thee ? And his lord was wroth, and deliv- 
ed him to the tormentors, till he should paj' all that was 
due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do 
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every 
one his brother their trespasses. 

aUESTIONS. 

About what did the disciples dispute among themselves ?-In 

what manner did Jesus reprove them ?-What did he say when 

it was reported to him that one had been working miracles in his 
name ?-What did he say to Peter about the forgiveness of inju¬ 
ries ?-What was the parable ofa king by which he illustrated the 

subject of forgiveness of injuries ? 


Practical Observations. 

It might be thought at first view, that the description in this para¬ 
ble is overcharged, so incredible does it seem that a man, who had 
experienced such kind and merciful treatment, should while the 
memory of so great a mercy was fresh upon his mind, eVen the very 
next moment, handle his fellow-servant, who had made the same 
humble submission arid request to him, which he had done to his 
lord, with so much harshness and cruelty, for so inconsiderable a 
sum. This would appear hardly credible, did we not see by daily 
experience how very unreasonable and unmerciful some men are, and 
with vvliat confidence they can ask and expect great mercy from God 
when they are willing to shew none to men. " We commonly plead 
the greatness of the injury done to us, as a reason for not foV«ivin«’ 
the offender. But. whoever t’hou art that makest this an argument* 
why thou canst not forgive thy brother, lay thine hand upon thine heart 
and bethink thyself, how many more and much greater offences thou 
hast been guilty of against God ; look up to that just and powerful 
Being who is above, and consider well, whether thou dost not both 
expect and stand in need of more mercy and favour from him than 
thou canst find in thy heart to show to thine offending brother/ 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


39 7 


CHAP. CCIV. 

Jesus restores to sight One blind from his Birth ; and 
Consequences of this Miracle. From the ninth Chap - 
ter of John. 

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind 
from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, 
Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he 
was born blind ? Jesus answered, Neither hath this 
man sinned, nor his parents ; but that the works of God 
should be made manifest in him. I must work the works 
ot him that sent me, while it is day : the night cometh 
when no man can work. As long as 1 am in the world, I 
am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, 
he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and 
he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which 
is, by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way there¬ 
fore, and washed, and came seeing. 

The neighbours, therefore, and they which before had 
seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and 
begged ? Some said, this is he : others said, he is like 
him : but he said, 1 am he. Therefore said they unto 
him, how were thine eyes opened ? He answered and said, 
a man that is called Jesus made clay and anointed mine 
eyes, and said unto me, go to the pool of Siloam, and 
wash : and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then 
said they unto him, where is he ? He said, I know not. 

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was 
blind. And it was the sabbath-dav when Jesus made 
the clay and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees 
also asked him how he had received his sight He said 
unto them, he put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, 
and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, this 
man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath- 
day. Others said, how can a man that is a sinner do 
such miracles ? And there was a division among them. 

They say unto the blind man again, what sayest thou 
of him, that he hath opened thine eyes ? He said, he is 
a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, 
that he had been blind and received his sight, until they 
called the parents of him that had received his sight. 
And they asked them, saving, Is this your son, who ye 
say was born blind ? How then doth he now see ? 

His parents answered them and said. We know that 
this is our son, and that he was born blind .* but by what 

K K 


598 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


•means he now seeth we know not ; or who hath opened 
his eyes we know not : he is of age ; ask him : he shall 
speak for himself. 

These words spake his parents, because they feared 
the Jews : for the Jews had agreed already, that it any 
man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out 
of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, he is ot 
age ; ask him. Then again called they the man that was 
blind, and said unto him, give God the praise : we know 
that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Wheth¬ 
er he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, 
that whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to 
him again, What did he to thee P How opened he thine 
eyes ? He answered them, I have told you already, and 
ye did not hear ; wherefore would you hear it again ? 
Will ye also be his disciples ? 

Then they reviled him, and said, thou art his disciple ; 
but we are Moses’disciples. We know that God spake 
unto Moses : as for this fellow, we know not from 
whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, 
Why, herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from 
whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now 
we know that God heareth not sinners : but if any man 
be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he hear¬ 
eth. Since the world began was it not heard that any 
man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this 
man were not of God, he could do nothing. They an¬ 
swered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in 
sins, and dost thou teach us ? And they cast him out. 

Jesus heard that they had cast him out : and when he 
had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on 
the Son of God ? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, 
that I might believe on him ? And Jesus said unto him, 
thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with 
thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worship¬ 
ped him. And Jesus said, for judgment I am come into 
this world ; that they which see not might see, and that 
they which see might be made blind. And some of the 
Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and 
said unto him, Are we blind also ? Jesus said unto 
them, if ye were blind, ye should have no sin : but now 
ye say, we see $ therefore your sin remaineth. 


QUESTIONS. 






What did the disciples ask Jesus concerning a blind person ?——• 
What was his reply ? - -—-What was the blind person directed to do 



THE BIBLICAL READER. • 399 

in order to be healed ?-What reason did the Pharisees offer against 

this miracle ? 


Practical Observations. 

Jesus anoints the eyes of the patient with clay, and bids him 
go and wash it off with water, in the pool of Siloam : in con¬ 
sequence of which, when the water should wash away the clay, 
the divine power would take away blindness. Now, if this man had 
been a modern philosopher, he would have put a question or two 
he would have said, “ Clay ! what can that do ? it will make my eyes 
worse instead of better. And as to the water that is to wash away, 
when did that make a blind man see f And why the waters of 
Siloam ? What are they more than others ?” Thus does human 
wisdom stand questioning, and expecting to have reason for every 
thing ; and this in cases where perhaps a reason cannot be given ; 
the will of God being the only reason, and the best of all ; but it is 
such as human reason never yet submitted to : nothing but faith can 
submit to the will of God : and as nothing but the will and pleasure 
of God can save l*st mankind, nothing but faith which submits to 
the will, can be saved. Man asks, how can an affect follow from 
that which is no cause of it ? But faith answers, it will be a cause, 
if God shall please to make it so: therefore I will take it as a cause, 
and trust to him for the effect. Thus doth faith reason, and it finds its 
own account in so doing. The poor man now before us, being bless¬ 
ed with common sense, and having none of that fine superior sense 
which turns a man into a fool by making him act absurdly, did as he 
was bid ; he went to the proper place, though he could give no rea¬ 
son for it but the command of Christ, and he returned with his eye* 
sight. 


CHAP. CCV. 

A Teacher of the Law instructed how he may obtain eter¬ 
nal Life ; Story of the good Samaritan ; the Disciples 
are instructed in Relation to the Duty of Prayer, From 
the tenth and eleventh Chapter of Luke. 


And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted 
him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal 
life P He said unto him. What is written in the law ? 
how readest thou P And he answering, said, Thou shalt 
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy 
mind : and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto 
him, Thou hast answered right : this do, and thou shalt 
live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, 
And who is my neighbour ? 

Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from 
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which 
stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and de¬ 
parted, leaving him half dead. By chance there came 







400 


The biblical header. 


down a certain Priest that way : and when he saw hint, 
he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, 
when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and 
passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, 
as he journeyed, came where he was : and when he saw 
him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and 
bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set 
him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and 
took care of him. And on the morrow when he depart¬ 
ed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and 
said unto him, Take care of him ; and whatsoever thou 
spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee. 
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour 
unto him that fell among the thieves ? And he said, He 
that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, 
Go, and do thou likewise. 

It came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain 
place, (Galilee,) when he ceased, he said unto his disci¬ 
ples, which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto 
him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me 
three loaves ; for a friend of mine in his journey is come 
to me, and I have nothing to set before him : and he from 
within shall answer and say, Trouble me not ; the door 
is now shut, and my children are with me in bed ; I can¬ 
not rise and give thee. I say unto you, though he will 
not rise and give him because he is his friend : yet be¬ 
cause of his importunity he will rise and give him as 
many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it 
shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and 
it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh 
receiveth ; and he that seeketh, findeth ; and to him that 
knocketh, it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of 
any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone ? or 
if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent ? or if 
he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion ? If ye 
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your 
children; how much more shall your heavenly Father 
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ? 

QUESTIONS. 

What question was proposed to Jesus by the lawyer ?-What 

answer was given ?-By what parable did Jesus teach him in the 

nature of brotherly love ?-By what parable did he teach his disci¬ 

ples the importance of perseverance in prayer ? 


Practical Observations. 

We learn from the parable of the good Samaritan, that we ought 
to account every man our neighbour, though a stranger, an enemy, 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


401 


a sinner, or one of a different sect and persuasion. Let him be what 
he will, he is a human creature ; and as such, he is entitled to hu¬ 
manity and courtesy in common intercourse, to direction and in¬ 
struction if he asks it and stands in need of it, and to relief and as¬ 
sistance if he is in distress. Thus we are to learn, that no difference 
oi nation or religion, no distinction of party, nor division of interests 
or affections, should ever restrain us from owning one as our neigh¬ 
bour, whom we are capable of serving in a neighbourly way, by anv 
kind offices whatsoever. 

CHAP. CCVI. 

Christ cures a Woman who had been afflicted eighteen 
Years ; He speaks several Parables illustrating the Na¬ 
ture of his Kingdom ; He answers the Question—Lire 
there few that be saved ? From the thirteenth Chapter 
of Luke . 

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the 
sabbath : and, behold, there was a woman which had a 
spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, 
and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus 
saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Wo¬ 
man, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid 
his hands on her : and immediately she was made 
straight, and glorified God. 

The ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, 
because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath-day, and 
said unto the people, There are six days in which men 
ought to work : in them therefore come and be healed, 
and not on the sabbath-da^. The Lord then answered 
him, and said, Thou hypocrite ; doth not each one of you 
on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and 
lead him away to watering ? And ought not this woman, 
being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, 
lo these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the 
sabbath-day ? And when he had said these things, all 
his adversaries were ashamed ; and all the people rejoiced 
for all the glorious things that were done by him. 

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like ? 
and whereunto shall I resemble it ? It is like a grain of 
mustard-seed, which a man took, and cast into his gar¬ 
den : and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the 
fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again 
he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God ? 
It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three 
measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 

K k 6 





4Q2 


THE BIBLICAL fcEAfiEfG 


And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, 
and journeying towards Jerusalem. Then said one unto 
him, Lord, are there few that be saved ? And he said un¬ 
to them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate : for many I 
say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath 
shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to 
knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us •, 
and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not 
whence ye are ; then shall ye begin to say, We have 
eaten and drank in thy presence, and thou hast taught in 
our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not 
•whence ye are ; depart from me, all ye workers of in¬ 
iquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, 
when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and 
all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you your- 
seives thrust out. And they shall come from the east, 
and from the west, and from the north, and from the 
south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, 
behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are 
first which shall be last. 

QUESTIONS. 

What miracle of Jesus is mentioned in the beginning of this chap¬ 
ter?-Why did the ruler of the synagogue find fault with him 

for it?-To what did Christ compare the kingdom of heaven? 

--What reply did he make to the question—Are there few saved ? 


Practical Observations. 

From the answer to the question, Arc there few that be sa¬ 
ved? Christ shows that all may obtain salvation who dis¬ 
play constancy, diligence, and courage, in conflicting with the 
world, the flesh, and the devil. He cautions us too, in this answer, 
against unnecessary curiosity about the salvation of others; but teach¬ 
es us to be careful in working out our own “ with fear and tremb¬ 
ling,” that is, with diligence and humility, not trusting to our own 
merits, but to God's mercy. He signifies that it was not the business 
of mankind to pry into what God has hid, but to mind what he has 
revealed ; and to master another difficulty, that of fulfilling his com¬ 
mands ; that multitudes, indeed, who profess his religion, would final¬ 
ly appear to have professed it in vain ; but that all this w^as not to be 
matter of idle speculation amongst men : they are each to take care 
and practise their own duties ; whatever number may be saved, 
great or small, they knew the way, and but one way there was, to be¬ 
come part of that number. 





THE BIBLICAL READER. 


405 


CHAP. CCVII. 

Christ teacheth Humility, and to feast the Poor ; the Par¬ 
able of the Supper ; the Difficulties attending the Pro¬ 
fession of Religion stated . From the fourteenth Chap¬ 
ter of Luke. 

It came to pass* as Jesus went into the house of one 
of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath- 
day, that they watched him. And he put forth a parable 
to those which were bidden, when he marked how they 
chose out the chief rooms, saying unto them, When thou 
art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the 
highest room ; iest a more honorable man than thou be 
bidden of him ; and he that bade thee and him come and 
say to thee, Give this man place ; and thou be begin with 
shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bid¬ 
den, go and sit down in the lowest room ; that when he 
that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go 
up higher : then shalt thou have worship in the presence 
of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever ex- 
alteth himself shall be abased : and he that humbleth 
himself shall be exalted. 

Then said he also to him that bade him, when thou 
makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy 
brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours ; 
lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made 
thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the 
maimed, the lame, the blind : and thou shalt be blessed; 
tor they cannot recompense thee ; for thou shalt be re¬ 
compensed at the resurrection of the just. 

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard 
these things, he said unto him, blessed is he that shall eat 
bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, 
A certain man made a great supper, and bade many : and 
sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were 
bidden, come : for all things are now ready. And they 
all with one consent began to make excuse. The first 
said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I 
must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 
And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I 
go to prove them : I pray thee have me excused. And 
another said, I have married a \tfife, and therefore I can¬ 
not come. 

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 
Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his ser- 





404 


THE BIBLICAL READER, 


vant, go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city* 
and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, 
and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as 
thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the 
Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and 
hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may 
be tilled. For I say unto you, that none of those men 
which were bidden shall taste of my supper. 

And there went great multitudes with him : and he 
turned and said unto them, whosoever doth not bear his 
cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For 
which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down 
first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to 
finish it ? Lest happily, after he hath laid the founda¬ 
tion, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin 
to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was 
not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war 
against another king, sitteth not down first and consult¬ 
ed! whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him 
that cometh against him with twenty thousand ? Or 
else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an 
ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, 
whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, 
he cannot be my disciple. 

QUESTIONS. 

At whose house is Jesus represented to be in this chapter ?-- 

How did lie teach humility ?-Whom did he say should be invited 

to entertainments ?-What was the parable of the supper P- 

Who did he say could not be his disciple ? 


Practical Observations. 

Christ recommends both humility and charity, telling us that they 
who endeavour to exalt themselves, shall be abased before God, and 
even before men, while those that humble themselves shall be exalt¬ 
ed : and exhorting us not to imitate those worldly people, who only 
welcome the rich and their friends, but despise and neglect the poor 
and unfortunate. The parable of the feast signifies, that the Jews, 
and especially the chief among them, were to be rejected for not 
embracing the invitations which God made them by Jesus Christ 
and his apostles ; and that those who were the most despised, and 
even the Gentiles themselves, should receive those favours which the 
Jews had rejected. Christ warns us most expressly, that in order to 
be his disciples, we must first learn to renounce every thing that may 
hinder us from following him. It is with this view that he proposes 
the parable of a man that was going to build a tower, and that of one 
king who was going to fight with another. 










The Prodigal Son receiving his patrimony ....Page 40$. 



The Prodigal Son returned .,.,Page 406. 








































































































































THE BIBLICAL READER. 


405 


CHAP. CCVI1I. 

Parable of the lost Sheep—of the Piece of Silver—and of 

the prodigal Son. From the fifteenth Chapter of 

Luke’s Gospel. 

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sin¬ 
ners, for to hear him. And he spake this parable unto 
them, saying, Whatman of you having an hundred sheep, 
if he lose one ot them, doth not leave the ninety and 
nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost 
until he find it ? And when he hath found it, he layeth 
it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh 
home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, 
saying unto them, rejoice with me $ for I have found my 
sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy 
shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more 
than over ninety and nine just persons which need no 
repentance. 

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she 
lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the 
house, and seek diligently till she find it ? And when 
she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neigh¬ 
bours together, saying, rejoice with me ; for I have found 
the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, 
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over 
one sinner that repenteth. 

And he said, A certain man had two sons : and the 
younger of them said to his father, Father give me the 
portion of goods thatFalleth to me. And he divided un¬ 
to them his living. And not many days after, the young¬ 
er son gathered all together, and took his journey into a 
far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous 
living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty 
famine in that land ; and he began to be in want. And 
he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country ; 
and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he 
would fain have filled himself with the husks that the 
swine did eat 5 and no man gave unto him. 

When he came to himself, he said, Mow many hired ser¬ 
vants of my fathers’ have bread enough and to spare, and 
I perish with hunger ! 1 will arise and go to my father, 

and will say unto him,Father, I have sinned against heaven, 
and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy 
son : make me as one of thy hired servants. And he 
arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a 
great way oft', his father saw him, and had compassion*, 





406 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


and rail, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And (he 
son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heav¬ 
en, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called 
thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth 
the best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his 
hand, and shoes on his feet : And bring hither the fatted 
calf, and kill it ; and let us eat and be merry : for this my 
son was dead, and is alive again ; he was lost and is found. 
And they began to be merry. 

Now his elder son was in the field ; and as he came 
and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing : 
and he called one of the servants, and asked what these 
things meant ? And he said unto him, Thy brother is 
come ; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because 
he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, 
and would not go in : therefore came his father out, and 
entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, 
these many yea^s do I serve thee, neither transgressed I 
at any time thy commandment : and yet thou never 
gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends : 
but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devour¬ 
ed thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the 
fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever 
with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that 
we should make merry and be glad : for this thy brother 
was dead, and is alive again $ and was lost, and is found. 

QUESTIONS, 

What is the first parable mentioned in this chapter ?-What is 

the second one ?-What are the principal circumstances in the 

parable of the prodigal son ?-Why did his brother object to the 

expressions of joy at his return ?-What reply did the father make 

to him ? 


Practical Observations. 

What shall we say of the tenderness and compassion of God to¬ 
wards penitent sinners ? It cannot be set forth more pathetically 
and affectionately than in this parable. On the one hand, we have 
the description of a graceless youth, unthankful, stubborn and diso¬ 
bedient, wilful, who had no cause for complaint, and would have had 
none to blame but himself, if he had been left to peiish. But as soon 
as he repented, and turned iiis face homewards, we see on the other 
hand, the aftectionate lather, who could not contain himself so much 
as to stay at home, and wait there for his son’s submission, but while 
he was yet afar off, ran to meet him, and fell upon his neck, and kiss¬ 
ed him. What conceptions ought we to have of God’s compassion 
to penitent sinners answerable to this description ! 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


407 


CHAP. CCIX. 

Parable of the unjust Steward , and of the rich Man and 
Laza rus : Jesus further instructs his Disciples concern¬ 
ing Offences. Forgiveness of Injuries , Faith and 
Obedience. From the sixteenth and seventeenth Chap¬ 
ters of Luke. 

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a cer¬ 
tain rich man which had a steward 5 and the same was 
accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he 
called h im, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this 
of tiiee ? Give an account of thy stewardship : for thou 
mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said 
within himself, what shall 1 do, for my lord taketh away 
from me the stewardship ? i cannot dig ; to beg I am 
ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put 
out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their 
houses. So he called everyone of his lord’s debtors unto 
him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto 
my lord ? And he said, an hundred measures of oil. 
And lie said unto him, take thy bill, and sit down quick¬ 
ly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how 
much owest thou ? And he said an hundred measures 
of wheat. And he said unto him, take thy bill, and 
write fourscore. 

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because 
he had done wisely : for the children of this world are in 
their generation wiser than the children of light. And t 
say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon 
of unrighteousness ; that when ye fail, they may receive 
you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in 
that which is least is faithful also in much ; and he 
that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If 
therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous 
mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches ? 
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another 
man’s, who shall give you that which is your own ? 

No servant can serve two masters : for either he will 
hate the one, and love the other 5 or else he will hold to 
the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot sene God 
and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were cov¬ 
etous, heard all these things : and they derided him. 
And he said unto them, ye are they which justify your¬ 
selves before men ; but God knoweth your hearts : for 
that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination 





408 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were 
until John ; since that time the kingdom of God is 
preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is 
easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the 
law to fail. 

There Mas a certain rich man, which was clothed in 
purple and line linen, and fared sumptuously every day : 
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which 
was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed 
with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table : 
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it 
came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by 
the angels into Abraham’s bosom ; the rich man also 
died, and was buried ; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, 
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and 
Lazarus in his bosom : And he cried and said, Father 
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he 
may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue : 
for i am tormented in this flame. 

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy 
lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus 
evil things : but now he is comforted and thou art tor¬ 
mented. And besides all this, betw een us and you there 
is a great gulf fixed : so that they which would pass from 
hence to you cannot : neither can they pass to us that 
would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee 
therefore, father, that thou wouldst send him to my 
father’s house ; for I have live brethren : that he may 
testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of 
torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and 
the prophets ; let them hear them. And he said, nay, 
father Abraham ; but if one went unto them from the 
dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they 
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be 
persuaded though one rose from the dead. 

Then said he unto the disciples, it is impossible but that 
offences will come : but wo unto him through whom 
they come ! It were better for him that a mill-stone 
w ere hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than 
that he should offend one of these little ones. 

Take heed to yourselves : if thy brother trespass 
against thee, rebuke him ; and if he repent, forgive him. 
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and 
seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying/ I re¬ 
pent ; thou shalt forgive him. And the apostles said 


the biblical reader. 


409 


utito the Lord, increase our faith. And the Lord said, 
it ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say 
unto this sycamine-tree, be thou plucked up by the root, 
and be thou planted in the sea ; and it should obey you. 
But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding 
cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from 
the field, go and sit down to meat ? And will not rather 
say unto him, make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird 
thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken ; 
and afterward thou shalt eat and drink ? Doth he thank 
that servant because he did the things that were com¬ 
manded him r I trow (think) not. So likewise ye, when ye 
shall have done all those things which are commanded 
you, say, we are unprofitable servants ; we have done 
that which was our duty to do. 

QUESTIONS. 

What are the particulars of the parable of the unjust steward ?-. 

What is said concerning the law ?-What request is the rich man 

represented to make to Abraham ?-What was the reply made 

to him ?-What instruction did our Saviour give his disciples on. 

the subject of forgiveness of injuries ? 


Practical Observations. 

This whole chapter tends to teach us how we must use the good 
things of this world. What is here said of the unfaithful steward, 
who to make himself friends, discharged his master’s debtors of part 
of what they owed him, must not be understood ’■“* if Christ com¬ 
mended the proceeding of that man, since such :«» action would be a 
manifest injustice and breach of trust. He ^nly designed to teach 
us thereby, that as this steward raised b« lise lf by the goods of his 
master, before he left his service; vve ought to secure for our¬ 
selves an entrance into a better life? &y employing our wealth to pious 
and charitable purposes. Iti 010 s *‘ r us ll P to this duty, that Christ 
says, that those who can« ot make a ri g ht use of the corruptible 
things of this life do hereby show that they are unworthy to pos-> 
sesslieavenly tiling- It iS with the same view he declares, that we 
cannot serve Cod, and set our heart upon riches at the same time. 
This he proves by the example of the Pharisees, who were covetous, 
and who, although they had a very high esteem of themselves, were 
abominable in the sight of God, and the professed enemies of his 
kingdom. But this is what he particularly aims at in the parable of 
the^wicked rich man and Lazarus, whereby our Lord represents 
what happens to those who, instead of assisting the miserable, em¬ 
ploy their wealth in gratifying their own luxury and sensuality . We 
see in this parable, that as the condition of men is very different 
in this life, so it will likewise be after death, and that we cannot 
judge of the happiness or misery of men, by what happens to them 
‘in this world. We discover, that the righteous enjoy sweet repose 
after their death, while the wicked are tormented ; and that the con- 
dition of them both is unchangeable. The answer which tire patri¬ 
arch Abraham returned to the wicked rich man, who prayed him to 






410 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


send Lazarus to his brethren, is a lesson to us, that God gives us, 
during this life, by his holy word, means suihcient to avoid destruc¬ 
tion, that those who do not lay hold of these means, are without ex¬ 
cuse : that they must not expect that God should work miracles for 
their conversion ; and that, although lie should, yet such miracles 
would not convince them. 


CHAP. CCX. 

Jesus cleanses ten Lepers; His Answer to the Inquiry 
when the Kingdom of God will come ; Parable of the 
unjust Judge and of the Publican and Pharisee ; Jesus 
received into Martha's House. From the seventeenth , 
eighteenth , and tenth Chapters of St. Luke. 

As Jesus entered into a certain village, there met him 
ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off*: and they 
lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have 
mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, 
Go shew yourselves unto the Priests. And it came to pass, 
that as they went, they were cleansed. And one ol them, 
when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a 
loud voice glorified God $ and fell dowm on his face at 
his feet, giving him thanks : and he was a Samaritan. 
And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleans¬ 
ed ? But where are the nine ? There are not found 
that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way : thy faith 
hath made thee whole. 

And w r hen he w*s demanded of the Pharisees when 
the kingdom of God should come, lie answered them and 
said, The kingdom ot God someth not with observation : 
Neither shall they say, Lo her* \ 0 r, Lo there ! for, be¬ 
hold, the kingdom of God is witn\ n you. And he said 
unto his disciples, The days will come when ye shall de¬ 
sire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and ye 
shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here : 
or, See there : go not after them, nor follow them. For 
as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part un¬ 
der heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven : 
so shall also the Son of Man be in his day. But first 
must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this gen¬ 
eration. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it 
be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, 
they drank, they married wives, they were given in mar¬ 
riage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and 
the flood came and destroyed them all. 



THE BIBLICAL BEADElt. 


411 


Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot ; they did 
eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, 
they budded ; but the same day that Lot went out of 
Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and des¬ 
troyed them all. Even thus shall it b£ in the day when 
the Son of Man is revealed. In that day, he which shall 
be upon the house-top, and his stuff in the house, let him 
not come down to take it away : and he that is in the 
field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s 
wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; 
and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell 
you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed, 
the one shall be taken and the other shall be left. Two 
women shall be grinding together : the one shall be taken 
and the other left. Two men shall be in the field ; the 
one shall be taken, and the other left. And they an¬ 
swered and said unto him, Where, Lord ? And he 
said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the 
eagles be gathered together. 

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, 
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint : 
saying, There was in a city a judge which feared 
not God, neither regarded man : and there was a 
widow in that city : and she carne unto him, saying, 
Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not 
for a while : but afterward he said within himself, Though 
I fear not God, nor regard man ; yet because this widow 
troubletii me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual 
coming she weary me. And the Lord said. Hear what 
the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his 
ow n elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he 
bear long with them ? I tell you that he will avenge 
them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man 
cometh, shall he find faith on the earth ? 

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted 
in themselves that they were righteous, and despised 
others : two men went up into the temple to pray ; the 
one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.. The Pharisee 
stood and prayed thus with himself ; God, I thank thee 
that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, 
adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the 
week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publi¬ 
can, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his 
eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 
God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, This man 
went down, to his house justified rather than the other $ 





412 THE BIBLICAL READER. 

for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased ; and 
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into ' 
a certain village : and a certain woman, named Martha, 
received him into hefl* house. And she had a sister called 
Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came 
to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister i 
hath left me to serve alone P bid her, therefore, that she 
help me. And Jesus answered, and said unto her, Mar¬ 
tha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many 
things : but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen 
that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

QUESTIONS. 

By whom was Jesus met on entering a certain village ?-What 

then took place ?-What did he say concerning the days of Lot ? 

-What application did he make in the case of Sodom ?-How 

did he illustrate the necessity of perseverance in prayer ?-What 

was the parable of the Pharisee and Publican ? 


Practical Observations. 

Are the good tidings of salvation through faith in a crucified Sa¬ 
viour received by all of us with those sensations of gratitude, with 
that desire* to promote the glory ef G ed, which blessings so incalcu¬ 
lable should excite ? Do we all “ with a loud voice glorify God, 
and fall down on our face, at his feet, giving him thanks ?” Or 
rather, may not the pathetick expostulation of the Redeemer of 
the world be repeated to us, 11 Were there not ten cleansed, but 
where are the nine ?” While the offer of the forgiveness of sins, of 
the cleansing of our spiritual leprosy, is freely made to all, does one 
in ten, does ene in a hundred, embrace it as he ought, with prayers 
of devout adoration to the God of his life and of his strength ? Do 
we acknowledge, that it is of the free mercy and love alone of our 
.heavenly Father, that the gift of everlasting life is vouchsafed to us 
miserable sinners ? 

■miS* 1111 

CHAP. CCXI. 

Jesus keeps the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem , and 
then goes to Bcthabara . From the tenth Chapter of 
John . 

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, 
and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in 
Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, 
and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt ? 
If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 



















THE BIBLICAL READER*" 


413 


Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed 
not : the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear 
witness of me. But ye believe not, because, ye are not 
of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my 
voice, and I know them, and they follow me:, and I give 
unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, 
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My 
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all $ and 
none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I 
and my Father are one. 

Then the Jews took-up stones again to stone him. 1 
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed 
you from my Father ; for which of those works do ye 
stone me ? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good 
work we stone thee not ; but for blasphemy, and because 
that thou,.being a man, makest thyself God. 

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I 
said, Ye are gods ? If he called them gods, unto whom 
the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be 
broken : say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified 
and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest $ because I 
said, I am the Son of God ? If I do not the works of my 
Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe 
not me, believe the works $ that ye may know, and be¬ 
lieve, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

Therefore they sought again to take him : but he es¬ 
caped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jor¬ 
dan, into the place where John at first baptized ; and there 
. he abode. And many resorted unto him, and said, John 
did no miracle : but all things that John spake of this^ 
man were true. And many believed on him there. 

QUESTIONS. 

On what occasion is Jesus mentioned in this chapter as being at • 

Jerusalem ?-What did the Jews say to him ?-What violence 

did they offer him P-What reason did they assign for doing it t 

——Where did he then go ? 


Practical Observations . 

It must be remarked by every serious reader, that our Lord did 
frequently speak of himself to the Jews, as being not only sent of 
God as their Messiah, but as being one with him. And it is as evident 
that in this sense, the priests and pharisees understood him: and it 
■was because they Would not credit this, that they accused him of 
blasphemy. Now, if our Lord was not the pefson they understood 






414 


THE BIBLICAL READER* 


him to state himself to be, he had the fairest opportunity from their 
strong remonstrances, to correct their misapprehension of his vvoids, 
if they really had mistaken his meaning—but this he never attempts. 
He rather strengthens his assertions in his consequent discourses 
with them ; which, had not his positions been true, he could not have 
done, even as an honest man. He not only asserted himself to be 
equal with God, but wished them to believe it to be true: and he 
amply confirmed this heavenly doctrine by the miracles he wrought 

444 * 

CHAP. CCXII. 

Jesus raises Lazarusfrom the Dead , and the Consequences 
of this Miracle. From the eleventh Chapter of John. 

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, ofBeth- 
any, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was 
that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and 
wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was 
sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, 
behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard 
that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the 
glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified 
thereby. 

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Laza¬ 
rus. When he had heard therefore, that he was sick, 
he abode two days still in the same place where he was. 
Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into 
Judea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the 
Jews of late sought to stone thee : and goest thou thither 
again ? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in 
the day ? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, 
because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man 
walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no 
light in him. 

These things said he : and after that, he saith unto 
them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth ; but I go that I may 
awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, 
if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of 
his death : but they thought that he had spoken of taking 
of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 
Lazarus is dead : And I am glad for your sakes that I 
was not there, to the intent ye may believe : nevertheless, 
let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called 
Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that 
we may die with him. Then when Jesus came he found 
that he had lain in the grave four days already. 





THE BIBLICAL READER* 


415 


Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen fur¬ 
longs off: and many of the Jews came to Martha and 
Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then 
Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, 
went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been 
here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even 
now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it 
thee. 

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again 
in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, 

I am the resurrection and the life : he that believeth in 
me, though he were dead, yet shall he live : and whoso¬ 
ever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest 
thou this ? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord ; I believe 
that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should 
come into the world. And when she had so said, she 
went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, say¬ 
ing, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As 
soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto 
him. 

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in 
that place where Martha met him. The Jews then 
which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when 
they saw Mary that she rose up hastily and went out, 
followed her, saying. She goeth unto the grave to weep 
there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, 
and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, 
Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews 
also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spir¬ 
it, and was troubled. And said, where have ye laid 
him ? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus 
wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him ! 
And some of them said, Could not this man, which open¬ 
ed the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man 
should not have died P Jesus therefore, again groaning in 
himself, cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone 
lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Mar¬ 
tha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him*—-He. 
hath been dead four days. Je3us saith unto her, Said I 
not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst 
see the glory of God ? 

Then they took away the stone from the place where 
the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and 


416 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


Baid, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And 
I know that thou hearest me always : but because of the 
people which stand by I said it, that they may believe 
that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, 
he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth ! And 
he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with 

f rave-clothes ; and his face was bound about with a nap- 
in. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him and let him go. 
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had 
seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But 
some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told 
them what things Jesus had done. 

Then gathered the chief Priests and the Pharisees a 
council, and said, What do we ? for this man doth many 
miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe 
on him ; and the Romans shall come and take away both 
our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiphas, 
being the high Priest that same year, said unto them, Ye 
know nothing at all. Nor consider that it is expedient 
for us that one man should die for the people, and that 
the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of 
himself: but, bein" high Priest that year, he prophesied 
that Jesus should die for that nation ; and not for that 
nation only, but that also he should gather together in one 
the children of God that were scattered abroad. 

Then from that day forth they took counsel together 
for to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more 
openly among the Jews, but went thence unto a country 
near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and 
there continued with his disciples. 

QUESTIONS. 

Of what place was Lazarus ?-Who were his sisters ?-By 

what other name is Thomas called ?-What did Jesus say to Mar¬ 
tha when they met P -What is said of Jesus before coming to the 

grave of Lazarus ?-Who was high Priest that year ?-To what 

place did Jesus repair after raising Lazarus from the dead ? 


Practical Observations. 

We are assured, that our deceased relatives shall rise again at the 
resurrection at the last day, and that all believers shall then appear 
with Jesus in glory : yet this assurance, comfortable as it is, cannot 
wholly allay our anguish for the loss of those who were a daily bless¬ 
ing to us. But we should by no means “ sorrow like men without 
hope for those who sleep in him neither should we look forward 
to death with dismay: for our gracious Friend, who gave himself for 
ns, is“ the resurrection ajid the life and death is now a conquered 







THE BIBLICAL READER. 


417 


enemy, or rather converted-into a friend to every believer. Such of 
them whose bodies now sleep in the grave live in heaven, and shall 
live forever ; and they who are alive and remain, shall never die, for 
Jesus liath“ abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality 
to light by the Gospel. ” 

CHAP. CCXIII. 

Jesus lays liis Hands upon young Children and blesses 
them,; His Discourse with a rich Man , who asked how 
he might obtain eternal Life ; the Parable of the La¬ 
bourers in the Vineyard. From the tenth Chapter of 
Mark , and the nineteenth and twentienth Chapter of 
Matthew. 

And they brought young children to Jesus, that he 
should touch them *, and his disciples rebuked those that 
brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much dis¬ 
pleased, and said, Suffer the little children to come unto 
me, and forbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of 
God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not re* 
ceive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not 
enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put 
his hands upon them, and blessed them. 

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came 
one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good 
Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ? 
And Jesus said unto him, Why callestthou me good ? there 
is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the 
commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, 
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, 
Honour thy father and mother. And he answered 
and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from 
my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and 
said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell 
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt 
have treasure in heaven : and come, take up the cross, 
and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and 
went away grieved ; for he had great possessions. 

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his dis¬ 
ciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into 
the kingdom of God ! And the disciples w^ere astonish¬ 
ed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith 
unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in 
riches to enter into the kingdom of God ! It is easier for 
a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich 
man to enter .into the kingdom of God. And they were 


418 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, 
Who then can be saved ? And Jesus looking upon them, 
saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God : for 
with God all things are possible. 

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all 
and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, 
Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me 
in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the 
throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones 
judging the twelve tribes of Israel. There is no man 
that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or 
mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and 
the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundred-fpld now in 
this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, 
and children, and lands, with persecutions ; and in the 
world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall 
be last ; and the last first. 

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an 
householder, which went out early in the morning to hire 
labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed 
with the labourers for a penny a-day, he sent them into 
his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, 
and saw others standing idle in the market-place. And 
said unto them, go ye also into the vineyard ; and what¬ 
soever is right, I will give you, and they went their way. 

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and 
did likewise. And about the elevemth hour he went out, 
and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why 
stand ye here all the day idle ? They say unto him, Be¬ 
cause no man hath hired us. lie saith unto them, Go ye 
also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall 
ye receive. 

So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith 
unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their 
hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when, 
they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they 
received every man a penny. But when the first came, 
they supposed that they should have received more ; and 
they likewise received every man a penny. And when 
they had received it, they murmured against the good 
man of the house, saying, These last have wrought but 
one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which 
have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he an¬ 
swered one of them, and said, Friend," I do thee no 
wrong : didst thou not agree with me for a penny ? Take 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


419 


that thine is, and go thy way : I will give unto this last 
even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what l 
will with mine own ? Is thine eye evil because I am 
good ? So the last shall be first, and the first last $ for 
many be called, but few chosen. 

QUESTIONS. 

What took place in regard to little children ?-What question 

vyas asked Jesus by a rich man who came to him ?-What answer 

did he make ?-What did Jesus then say to his disciples ?- 

What arc the particulars ot the parable of the householder who went 
to hire labourers into his vineyard ? 

Practical Observations. 

The discourse our Lord had with the rich young man mentioned 
in this chapter, teaches that to enter into life everlasting, we must 
keep the commandments of God ; and further, be ready to forsake all 
that we possess in this world when God calls us to it, and when we 
cannot keep them without being wanting in our duty towards him. 
The concern which the young man discovered at what Christ said to 
him, and the declaration of our Savic ur that it would be very hard 
for rich men to resolve to forsake their goods to come into the church, 
shows that riches do commonly fix our hearts upon the world, arid 
that the enjoyment of them is always dangerous. Nevertheless 
Christ has taught us, that such a renunciation of worldly goods is 
not an impossible tiling, but on the contrary both practicable, and 
even easy and agreeable too, when we are enlightened by faith 
and assisted by the Spirit of God. If all Christians are not called, 
as the Apostles were, to forsake all to follow Christ, we ought at 
least to take heed that the good tilings of this life do not hinder our 
salvation, we o,tight not to set our heart upon them, we should learn 
to use them without abusing them, and to employ them in works of 
piety and charity. By this means we shall procure to ourselves a 
treasure in heaven, and partake of those blessings, with which our 
Lord has promised to reward both in this world and the next, such 
as shall fulfil all these duties. 




CHAP. CCXIV. 

The ambitious Request of James and John ; Jesus re¬ 
stores Sight to two blind Men near Jericho ; He visits 
Zaccheus ; the Parable of the Nobleman and the ten 
Pounds. From the tenth Chapter of Mark , the twen¬ 
tieth Chapter of Matthew , and the nineteenth Chapter of 
Luke. 

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto 
him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldst do for 
us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them.. 












420 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


What would ye that I should do for you ? They said un¬ 
to him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right 
hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But 
Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Can 
ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized 
with the baptism that I am baptized with ? And they 
say unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye 
shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with 
the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be bap¬ 
tized : But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand 
is not mine to give $ but it shall be given to them for 
whom it is prepared. 

When the ten heard it they began to be much displeased 
with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, 
and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are ac¬ 
counted to rule over the Gentiles, exercise lordship over 
them ; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 
But so shall it not be among you ; but whosoever will be 
great among you, shall be your minister •, and whosoever 
of you wili be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For 
even the Son of Man came not to be administered unto, 
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, 
when they heard that. Jesus passed by, cried out, saying. 
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord, thou Son of David ! And 
the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold 
their peace ; but they cried the more, saying, Have mer¬ 
cy on us, 0 Lord, thou Son of David ! And Jesus stood 
still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I 
shall do unto you ? They say unto him, Lord, that 
our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on 
them and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes 
received sight, and they followed him. 

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, 
behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the 
chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he 
sought to see Jesus who he w as ; and could not for the ^ 
press, because he was little of stature. And he ran be¬ 
fore, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him ; for 
he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to 
the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said 
unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; 
for to-day I must abide at thy house. And he made 
haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


421 


when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he 
was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And 
Zaccheus stood, and sai l unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, 
the half of my goods I give to the poor : and if I have 
taken any tiling from any man by false accusation, I re¬ 
store him four-fold. And Jesus said unto him. This day 
is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a 
son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek 
and to save that which was lost. 

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a 
parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because 
they thought that the kingdom of God should immediate¬ 
ly appear. He said, therefore, A certain nobleman went 
into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to 
return. And he called his ten servants, and lie deliver¬ 
ed them ten pounds, and said unto them. Occupy till I 
come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message 
after him, saying, We will not have this Man to reign 
over us. And it came to pass, that when he was return¬ 
ed, having received the kingdom, then he commanded 
these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had 
given the money, that he might know how much every 
inan had gained by trading. 

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath 
gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou 
good servant : because thou hast been faithful in a very 
little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the sec¬ 
ond came, saying. Lord, thy pound hath gained five 
pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over 
five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, 
here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a‘nap¬ 
kin : for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man : 
thou takest up that thou layest not down, and reapest 
that thou didst not sow. And lie saitli unto him, Out of 
thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wdeked servant. 
Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up 
that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow : 
wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, 
that at my coming I might have required mine own with 
usury ? And he said unto them that stood by, Fake 
from him the pound, and give it to him that hath tea 
pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten 
pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one 
which hath shall be given ; and froili him that hath not, 

M M 





422 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But 
those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign 
over them,, bring hither and slay them before me. And 
when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up 
to Jerusalem. 

QUESTIONS. 

What request did James and John make to Jesus ?-What reply 

did he make ?-What miracle did he perform near Jericho ?- 

What did Zaccheus say to Jesus ?-What was the reply ?- 

What were the particulars of the parable of the nobleman and the 
ten pounds ? 


Practical Observations. 

If we ask such things as are truly good for us or others, God will 
not refuse our requests: but when we pray under the influence of 
pride, avarice, or any other passion, we know not what we ask : we 
mistake poison for food or medicine : and if he loves us, he will with¬ 
hold from us what we foolishly crave. If we would at last be con¬ 
formed to our glorified Lord, we must be willing here to have fellow¬ 
ship with him in his sufferings ; we must pass through tribulation and 
reproach ; we must drink in some measure of his bitter cup, and ex¬ 
perience some degree of his afflictive baptism ; yet how light, and 
mingled with comfort, are our sharpest trials, compared with the un¬ 
mixed agony and anguish which he endured for us ! Possessing a good 
hope of being admitted to the felicity of heaven, we shall be satis¬ 
fied with the thought, that it will be, “ according as it is prepared 
for us by our heavenly Father.” 


CIIAP. CCXV. 

Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem , amidst the Acclamations 
of the Disciples and the Multitude ; the barren 
Fig-tree ; and Jesus’ Discourse with the chief 
PriestS) the Scribes and Elders in the Temple. 
From the eleventh Chapter of Mark , the twenty-first 
and tvjenty-second Chapter of Matthew , and the nine¬ 
teenth Chapter of Luke. 

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Beth- 
phage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sendeth 
forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go your 
way into the village over against you ; and as soon as ye 
be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon nev¬ 
er man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man 
say unto you, Why do ye this ? say ye that the Lord 









THE BIBLICAL READER, 


42a 


hath need of him : and straightway he will send him 
hither. And they went their way, and found the colt 
tied by the door without, in a place where two ways 
met; and they loose him. And certain of them that 
stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt ? 
And they said unto them, even as Jesus had commanded: 
and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Je¬ 
sus, and cast their garments on him ; and he sat upon 
him. 

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was 
spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of 
Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sit¬ 
ting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And a very 
great multitude spread their garments in the way ; others 
cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the 
way. And the multitudes that went before, and that fol¬ 
lowed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David ! 
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord ! Ho¬ 
sanna in the highest ! 

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude 
said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he 
answered and said unto them, I tell you that if these 
'should hold their peace, the stones would immediately 
cry out. 

And when he was come near, he beheld the city and 
wept over it, Saying, if thou hadst known, even thou, 
at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy 
peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the 
days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast 
a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep 
thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the 
ground, and thy children within thee ; and they shall 
not leave in thee one stone upon another ; because thou 
knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

When he was come into Jerusalem, all the city 
was moved, saying, Who is this ? And the multitude 
said, This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 
And the blind, and the lame came to him in the temple, and 
he healed them. When the chief Priests and Scribes saw 
the wonderful things that he did, and the children cryingin 
the temple, and saying. Hosanna, to the Son of David 1 
they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearestthou 
what these say ? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea : have 
ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings 
thou hast perfected praise ? 



424 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And he left them, and went out of the city into Beth¬ 
any ; and he lodged there. Now in the morning, as he re¬ 
turned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a 
fig-tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing 
thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit 
grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the 
fig-tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, 
they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig-tree wither¬ 
ed away 1 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I 
say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall 
not only do this which is done to the fig-tree, but also, i-f 
ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and 
be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all 
things whatsoever ve' shall ask in prayer, believing, ye 
shall receive. 

And when ye stand praying, forgive if ye have aught 
against any: that your Father also which is in heaven 
may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not for¬ 
give, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive 
you your trespasses. 

And when he was come into the temple, the chief 
Priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he 
was teaching, and said, By what authority doestthou these 
things P and who gave thee this authority ? And Jesus 
answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one 
thing, which, if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by 
what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, 
whence w as it ? from heaven or of men ? And they reason¬ 
ed with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven ; 
he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe 
him ? But if we shall say, Of men ; we fear the people ; 
for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered 
Jesus and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto 
them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these 
things. 

But what think ye ? A certain man had two sons : and 
he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my 
vineyard. He answered and said, I w ill not; but after¬ 
ward he repented and went. And he came to the sec¬ 
ond, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, 
sir ; and went not. Whether of them twain did the will 
of his father ? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith 
unto them. Verily I say unto you, That the publicans 
and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 
For John came unto you, in the way of righteousness, 




TJtTE BIBLICAL READER. 


425 


and ye believed him not; but the publicans-and the har¬ 
lots believed him : and ye, when ye had seen it, repented 
not afterward, that ye might believe him. 

Hear another parable : There was a certain household¬ 
er, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round 
about, and digged a wine-press in it, and built a tower, 
and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 
and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his ser¬ 
vants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the 
fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and 
beat one, and stoned another, and killed another. Again, 
he sent other servants more than the first : and they did 
unto them likew ise. But last of all, he sent unto them 
his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But 
when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among them¬ 
selves, This is the heir ; come, let us kill him, and let us 
seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast 
him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the Lord 
therefore, of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto 
those husbandmen ? 

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those 
wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other hus¬ 
bandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their sea¬ 
sons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the 
scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the 
same is become the head of the corner : this is the Lord’s 
doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes ? Therefore say 
I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you 
and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 
And whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be broken : 
but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to pow¬ 
der. And when the chief Priests and Pharisees had heard 
his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But 
when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the 
multitude, because they took him for a prophet. 

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by 
parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a 
certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent 
forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the 
wedding : and they would not come. Again, he sent 
forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden. 
Behold, I have prepared my dinner ; my oxen and my 
fatlings are killed, and all things are ready : come unto 
the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their 

Mm2 


42G 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise i 
and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them 
spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard 
thereof, he was wroth : and he sent forth his armies, and 
destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but 
they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye, there¬ 
fore, into the highways ; and as many as ye shall finely 
bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into 
the highways, and gathered together all, as many as they 
found, both bad and good : and the wedding was furnish¬ 
ed with guests. And when the king came in to see the 
guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding 
garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how earnest thou 
in hither, not having a wedding garment ? And he was 
speechless. Then saith the king to the servants, Bind 
him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him 
into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnash¬ 
ing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Jesus do when he came to Bethphage and Bethany P-• 

What did the multitude say and do when Jesus approached Jerusa¬ 
lem ?-What reply did he make when the Pharisees found fault ? 

-What did he do in the temple ?-What miracle did he perform 

concerning the fig-tree ?-What parables did he speak contained 

in the latter part of this Chapter ? 


Practical Observations. 

To understand the reason and design of our Saviour’s royal entry 
into Jerusalem, we must observe, that he had avoided till then all 
appearance of pomp, and being acknowledged publickly for the Mes¬ 
siah ; but he thought fit, six days before his death, to make known 
to the world that he was the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and 
to be acknowledged for such by the people that attended him, and to 
enter into the temple in the midst of the acclamations of a great mul¬ 
titude. Nevertheless he did it after a manner that by no means re^ 
scmbled the splendour of worldly princes ; but which discovered the 
utmost humility and meekness, which tended to show that he was the 
great King which God had promised to his people, but that his king¬ 
dom was not of this world. 

Such was the spirit of the Master, such must be the spirit of the 
disciple. He that will reign with Christ, must be humbled and suf¬ 
fer with him. This is the royal road. The love of the world, in its 
power and honours, is as inconsistent with the spirit ofthe gospel, as 
the love of the grossest vice. If any man love the world, the lore 
ofthe Father is not.in him 










THE BIBLICAL READER, 


42r 


CHAP. CCXVI. 

The Parable of the ten Virgins ; and of the Talents ; also 

the Description of the last Judgment . From the twenty 

fifth Chapter of Matthew. 

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten 
virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet 
the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five 
were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, 
and took no oil with them : but the wise took oil in their 
vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, 
they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there 
was a cry made, Behold, tne bridegroom cometh •, go ye 
out to meet him. 

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil j 
for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, say¬ 
ing, Not so ; lest there be not enough for us and you : 
but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came : and 
they that were ready went in with him to the marriage : 
and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other 
virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he an¬ 
swered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 
Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the 
hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. 

When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all 
the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the 
throne of his glory : and before him shall be gathered all 
nations ; and he shall separate them one from another, as 
a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : and he 
shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the 
left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right 
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the king¬ 
dom prepared for you from the foundation of the world : 
for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat : I was 
thirsty, and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger, and ye 
took me in : naked, and ye clothed me : I was sick, and 
ye visited me : I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when 
saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and 
gave thee drink ? when saw we thee a stranger, and took 
thee in P or naked, and clothed thee P or when saw tfe 
thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee ? And the 
King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto 



428 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of 
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall 
he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, 
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil 
and his angels : for I was an hungered, and ye gave me 
no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink : I was 
a stranger, and ye took me not in : naked, and ye cloth¬ 
ed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not* 
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw 
we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, 
or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee ? 
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto 
you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of 
these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away 
into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life 
eternal. 

QUESTIONS. 

What are the particular circumstances in the parable of the ten 

virgins?-To what subject does the latter part of this chapter relate ? 

-What is here represented as the ground of difference that will be 

made between the righteous and the wicked ? 

Practical Observations. 

The parable of the virgins is taken from the practice of the Jews 
at their weddings, at which the maidens were used to meet the bride¬ 
groom and bride with lighted lamps : and by this parable Christ gave 
his disciples to understand that they were continually to expect and 
be prepared for his coming. The wise virgins represent the true be¬ 
lievers, that live in faith, and in the practice of their duty, and in the 
expectation of our Lord’s coming ; and the foolish virgins represent 
the false Christians who neglect their duty. The coming of the 
bridegroom at midnight, and the condition the wise and foolish vir¬ 
gins were in, signifies that Christ will come to judge the world when he 
is least expected ; and that then those that shall be found ready will 
be filled with joy, and with a holy confidence, and shall be received into 
his glory : while, on the other hand, those who have neglected to pre~ 
pare themselves, shall have for their portion nothing but misery and 
despair, and will in vain attempt to be admitted to the joys of the 
righteous. 

CHAP. CCXVII. 

Jesus prepares to keep the Passover ; He sits down with 
the Twelve ; there is ambition among them ; He wash¬ 
es the Disciples 9 feet ; He foretels that Judas shall be¬ 
tray him ; also foretels the fall of Peter . From the 

twenty-second Chapter of Luke , and the thirteenth 
Chapter of John. 

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the 
passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, 






THE BIBLICAL READER. 


429 


saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may 
cat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we 
prepare ? And he said unto them, Behold when ye are 
entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bear¬ 
ing a pitcher of water ; follow him into the house where 
he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good man of 
the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the 
guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my 
disciples ? And lie shall show you a large upper room 
furnished : there make ready. And they went and 
found as he had said unto them ; And they made ready* 
the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, 
and the twelve apostles with him. 

And there was also a strife among them, which of them 
should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto 
them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over 
them ; and they that exercise authority upon them, are 
called benefactors. But ye shall not be so $ but he that 
is greatest among you, let him be as the younger ; and 
he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is 
greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth ? 
Is not he that sitteth at meat ? But I am among 
you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have 
continued with me in my temptations. And I ap¬ 
point unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed 
unto me ; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my 
kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of 
Israel. 

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to 
eat this passover with you before I suffer. For I say 
unto you, I will not.any more eat thereof, until it be lul- 
filled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and 
gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among 
yourselves. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the 
fruit of the vine, until the kingdom ol God shall come. 

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew 
that his hour was come that he should depart out of this 
world unto the Father, having loved his own which were 
in the world, he loved them unto the end. Jesus know¬ 
ing that the Father had given all things into his hands, 
and that he was come from God, and went to God ; lie 
riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments ; and 
took a towel and girded himself. After that, he poureth 
water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples” feet, 
und to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was gird-- 


430 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


ed. Then cometh he to Simon Peter : and Peter saith 
unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet ? Jesus an¬ 
swered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not 
now ; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto 
him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered 
him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but 
also my hands and my head. 

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his 
garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, 
Know ye what I have done to you ? Ye call me Master^ 
and Lord : and ye say well ; for so I am. If I then, 
your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also 
ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you 
an example, that ye should do as 1 have done to you. 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater 
than his lord ; neither he that is sent greater than he that 
sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye 
do them. 

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, 
and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, 
that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples 
looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now 
there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom, one of his disciples, 
whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to 
him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he 
spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast, saith unto him, 
Lord, who is it ? Jesus answered, He it is to whom I 
shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. When he had 
dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of 
Simon. And then Satan entered into him. Then said 
Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. He then 
having received the sop, went immediately out : and it 
was night. 

Therefore when he was gone out, Jesus sa’d, Now is 
the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 
If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in 
himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little chil¬ 
dren, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek 
me : and, as I said unto the Jews, whither I go, ye 
cannot come ; so now I say to you. A new command¬ 
ment I give unto you, That ye love one another ; as I 
have loved you, that ye also love one another. Bv this 
shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have 
loye one to another. 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


431 


Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, v hither goes! thou ? 
Jesus answered him. Whither 1 go, thou canst not fol¬ 
low me now : but thou shalt follow me afterward. Pe¬ 
ter said unto him, Lord, why cannot 1 follow thee now ? 

I vvill lav down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered 
him. Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake ? Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee. The cock shall not crow, till 
thou hast denied me thrice. 

QUESTIONS. 

What was the strife among the disciples of Christ mentioned in this 

chapter '-What instance of his great humility is here recorded ? 

——Which one of his disciples objected to this ?-In what manner 

did he make it known who should betray him ?-W hat did he l'ore- 

tel concerning Peter P 

Practical Observations. 

Neither the deepest abasement and suffering, nor the highest pos¬ 
sible exaltation, can ever render our blessed Redeemer for a moment 
inattentive to the concerns of his disciples, whom he hath chosen, 
redeemed, and called to be his own for ever. The same love which 
induced him to ransom and reconcile them when enemies, still in¬ 
fluences him to pity their sorrows, to pardon their sins, to supply 
their wants, to preserve their souls, and to comfort their hearts, now 
that he hath taught them to trust, love and to serve him : and having 
loved them hitherto, he will love them to the end, and for ever. 

-»*##«♦»■•• 

CHAP. CCXVIII. 

Ffter foretelling his Disciples that he iras to he t(then from 
them, he comforts them with the Promise of the Holy 
Ghost. From the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth 
Chapters of John. 

Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, 
believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many 
mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I 
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a 
place for you, 1 will come again and receive you unto 
myself: that where I am, there ye may be also. And 
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 1 do, that 
the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask 
any thing in my name I will do it. 

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will 
pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comfort¬ 
er, that he may abide with you forever : Even the Spir¬ 
it of truth ; whom the world cannot receive* because it 









432 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


seeth him Dot, neither knoweth him : but ye know him : 
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will 
not leave you comfortless : 1 will come to you. Peace 
I leave with you, my peace 1 give unto you : not as the 
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be 
troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how 
I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you, 
If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go 
unto the Father : for my Father is greater than I. I am 
the vine, ye are the branches : He that abideth in me, 
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for 
without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in 
me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and 
men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they 
are burned. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear 
much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, 
as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than 
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the servant 
knoweth not what his lord doeth : but I have called you 
friends ; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I 
have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, 
but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should 
go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should re¬ 
main : that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my 
name, he may give it you. 

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before 
it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would 
love his own : but because ye are not of the world, but I 
have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world 
hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, 
The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have 
persecuted me, they will also persecute you : He that 
hateth me, hateth my Father also. When the Comforter 
is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, 
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedcth from the Fath¬ 
er, he shall testify of me. And he will reprove the 
world of-sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of 
sin, because they believe not on me ; of righteousness, 
because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more ; of 
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

•—These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might 
have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation ; but 
be of good*cheer : I have overcome the world. 


I 


i 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


433 


QUESTIONS. 

What encouragement does Jesus give his disciples in regard to 

prayer?-What does he say to them concerning love to each 

other ?-And concerning persecution from the world ?_What 

did he say the Comforter would do ?- 


Practical Observations. 

Whilst we admire the unspeakable love of Jesus to us, according 
to the Father’s love of him, let us follow his example of obedience, 
that we may continue in his love ; and, as he rejoices over us to do 
us good, so may our joy in him and his salvation be full, by near 
communion with him and a conscious walk before him. Let us 
often recollect what a kind and gracious Lord we serve ? It is his 
commandment, that we love one another, as he hath loved us: and 
no love of man to his dearest friend, ever equalled his love to us, 
when strangers and enemies. But let us observe, that they only are 
the Redeemer’s friends, who u do whatsoever he commands them.” 
He hath stated this evidence, and insisted on this return of friend¬ 
ship ; and it is presumption to claim the privilege, whilst we allow 
ourselves in any instance of disobedience, 

CHAP. CCXIX. 


Christ's Prayer to the Father. From the seventeenth 
Chapter of St. John's Gospel. 

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to 
heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come : glorify thy 
Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee ; as thou hast 
given him power over all flesh, that he should give eter¬ 
nal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is 
life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true 
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I have glo¬ 
rified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which 
thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou 
me with thine ownself, with the glory which I had with 
thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name 
unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world : 
thine they were, and thou gavest them me ; and they have 
kept thy word. Now they have known that all things 
whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have 
given unto them the words which thou gavest me ; and 
they have received them, and have known surely that I 
came out from thee, and they have believed that thou 
didst send me. I pray for them : I pray not for the 
world, but for them which thou hast given me : for they 
are thine. All mine are thine, and thine are mine ; and 
I am glorified in them. 

N if 







434 


THE BIBLICAL READER-* 


And now I am no more in the world, but these are in 
the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep 
through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, 
that they may be one, as we are. While I was with 
them in the world, I kept them in thy name : those that 
thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost but 
the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfill¬ 
ed. And now come I to thee, and these things I speak 
in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in 
themselves. I have given them thy word ; and the 
world hath hated them, because they are not of the 
world, even as I am not of the w orld. I pray not that 
thou shouldesttake them out of the w orld, but that thou 
shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the 
world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them 
through thy truth : thy word is truth. As thou hast sent 
me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the 
world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they 
also might be sanctified through the truth. 

Neither pray I for these alone ? but for them also 
which shall believe on me through their word. That they 
all may be one : as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, 
that they also may be one in us : that the w orld may be¬ 
lieve that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou 
gavest me, I have given them ; that they may be one, 
even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, .that 
they may be made perfect in one ; and that the world 
may know r that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as 
thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also whom 
thou hast given me be with me where I am $ that they 
may behold my glory which thou hast given me : for thou 
lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O right¬ 
eous Father, the world hath not known thee : but I have, 
known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent 
me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will 
declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, 
may be in them, and I in them. 


Practical Observations. 

May we continually recollect that union and communion with the 
'Father and the Son, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and union, 
peace, and harmony with one another, formed the substance of our 
Redeemer’s prayer for all hi$ future disciples to the end of time.— 
Let us then “ endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of 
^peace*nd let us pray for a larger portion of divine illumination in 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


435 


behalf of ourselves and all our brethren , that we may all be united in 
one mind and judgment. Thus we shall have a measure of the Re¬ 
deemer s glory conferred on us, by being conformed to his image, 
united with his people, and hated by those only, who hate him, and 
the f at her that sent him. Thus at length we shall surely be with 
him for ever, to behold his glory, and enjoy as one with him, that 
love, with which the Father loved him before the foundation of the 
world; and shall possess the most complete felicity, in the full 
knowledge of that glorious God, whom the world hath not known ; 
but in knowing whom, angels and archangels find blessedness of 
which in our present state we can frame no adequate conception. 

chap. ccxx. 

; 

The Agony of Jesus in Gelhsemane ; He is betrayed by 
Judas. From the twenty-sixth Chapter of Matthew , 
the twenty-second Chapter of Luke, and the eighteenth 
Chapter of John. 

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out 
into the mount of Olives. Then cometh Jesus 
with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith 
unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray 
yonder. And he took with him Peter, and the 
two sons of Zededee, and began to be sorrowful and 
very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceed¬ 
ing sorrowful, even unto death : tarry ye here, and watch 
with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his 
face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, 
let this cup pass from me : nevertheless, not as 1 will, 
but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and 
findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could 
ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that 
ye enter not into temptation : the spirit indeed is willing, 
but the flesh is weak. 

He went again the second time, and prayed, saying, O 
my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I 
drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them 
asleep agafn : for their eyes were heavy. And he left 
them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, 
saying the same words. And there appeared an angel 
unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in 
an a^ony he prayed more earnestly : and his sweat was 
It were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 
Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them. 
Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is 







436 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands 
of sinners. Rise, let us be going : behold, he is at hand 
that doth betray me. 

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place : 
for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Ju¬ 
das then, having received a band ot men and officers from 
the thief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lan¬ 
terns, and torches, and weapons. Jesus, therefore, 
knowing all things that should come upon him, went 
forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye r They an¬ 
swered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, 
I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood 
with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I 
am he, they went backward, and tell to the ground. 
Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye ? And they 
said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told 
you that I am he : If therefore ye seek me, let these go 
their way, that the saying might be fulfilled which he 
spake, Of them which thou gavestme, have I lost none. 
Now he that betrayed him, gave them a sign, saying, 
Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he ; hold him fast. 
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master ; 
and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, 
wherefore art thou come ? Then came they, and laid 
hands on Jesus, and took him. And behold, one of them 
which were with Jesus, stretched out his hand, and 
drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, 
and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put 
up again thy sword into his place : for all they that take 
the sword, shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou 
that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall pres¬ 
ently give me more than twelve legions of angels P But 
how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it 
must be ? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, 
Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves 
for to take me ? I sat daily with you teaching in the tem¬ 
ple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, 
that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled* 
Then all the disciples forsook him, and tied. 

QUESTIONS. 

What did Jesus say to his disciples when at the Mount of Olives ? 

-What took place at Gelhsemane ?-By what sign did Judas 

discover Jesus to the Jews?-For what did Jesus reprove on« 

with him, after he was betrayed ? 








THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


437 


Practical Observations. 

hat more lively representation can we possibly desire of our 
Lord's willing sufferings for our sakes, than this which the tragical 
scene in the garden sets before our eyes ? Those tortures of body, and 
that exceeding sorrow and heaviness, even unto death; those ago¬ 
nies and earnest prayers, which extorted even drops of blood, and a 
most vehement importunity that the bitterness of that cup, which he 
was then about to drink, might, if possible, pass from him : these are 
all indications of anguish and grief of heart, greater than can be ex¬ 
pressed. By all these pangs our Lord has convinced us at how dear 
a price he thought our souls worth purchasing ; what obligations to 
love and gratitude are laid upon those for whom he endured so much ; 
and how highly displeasing in the sight of God sin must ever be, 
since so heavy a load of suffering was laid by God on the Son of his 
love, when through his unspeakable kindness he submitted to bear the 
sins of others. 


CHAP. CCXXI. 

Jesus is brought before Annas and Caiaphas ; Peter denies 
him thrice ; He confesses himself to be the Christ , and is 
pronounced Guilty of Death ; He is taken before Pilate , 
who sends him to Herod. From the eighteenth Chapter 
of John , the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh Chapter 
of Matthew , and the twenty-third Chapter of Luke. 

And they led him (Jesus) away to Annas first; for he 
was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high Priest 
that same year. Now Caiaphas was he which gave coun¬ 
sel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man 
should die for the people. 

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another 
disciple : that disciple was known unto the high Priest, 
and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high Priest. 
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out 
that other disciple, which was known unto the high 
Priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and 
brought in Peter. And the servants and officers stood 
there who had made a fire of coals ; for it was cold : and 
they warmed themselves : and Peter stood with them, 
and warmed himself. 

Now Peter sat without in the palace : and a damsel 
came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of 
Galilee. But he denied before them all? saying, I know 

N n 2 



4J8 


THE BIBLICAL READER^ 


hot what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into 
the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that 
were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 
And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the 
man. And after a while, came unto him they that stood 
by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them ; 
for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he curse 
and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And imme¬ 
diately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the 
word of Jesus, which said unto him. Before the cock 
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and 
wept bitterly. 

The high Priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and 
of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to 
the world : I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the 
temple, whither the Jews al ways resort; and in secret have 
I said nothing. Why askest thou me ? ask them which 
heard me, what I have said unto them ; behold, they 
know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one 
of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm 
of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high Priest so ? 
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness 
of the evil : but if well, why smit-est thou me P 

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and 
the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led 
him into their council, and they sought for false witness 
against Jesus to put him to death, but found none : yea, 
though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. 
At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fel¬ 
low said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to 
build it in three days. And the high Priest arose, and 
said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which 
these witness against thee ? But Jesus held his peace. 
And the high Priest answered and said unto him, I adjure 
thee, by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be 
the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him. Thou 
hast said : nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall 
ye see the Son of Man sitting on the light hand of power, 
and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high 
Priest rent his clothes, saying. He hath spoken blasphe¬ 
my ; what further need have we of witnesses ? behold, 
now ye have heard his blasphemy. Wliat think ye ? 
They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then 
did they spit in his face, and buffeted him $ and others 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


459 


smote him with the palms of their hands, saying-, Prophet 
■cy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee ? 

When the morning was come, all the chief Priests and 
elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him 
to death. And when they had bound him, they led him 
away : and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the govern¬ 
or*. And they themselves went not into the judgment 
hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat 
the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, 
What accusation bring ye against this man P They an¬ 
swered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, 
we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then 
said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him ac¬ 
cording to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, 
It is not lawful for us to put any man to death : that the 
saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signi¬ 
fying what death he should die. 

Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and 
called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the 
Jews ? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of 
thyself, or did others tell it thee of me P Pilate answer¬ 
ed, Am I a Jew 7 ? Thine own nation and the chief Priests 
have delivered thee unto me ? What hast thou done ? 
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this w r orld: if my 
kingdom were of this world, then wmuld my servants 
fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews ; but 
now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore 
said unto him, Art thou a king then ? Jesus answered, 
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, 
and for this cause came I into the world, that I should 
bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the 
truth heareth my voice. 

Pilate saith unto him. What is truth ? And when he 
liad said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and 
saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. And 
they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the peo¬ 
ple, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Gali¬ 
lee to this place. And when he was accused of the chief 

I iriests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pi- 
ate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they 
witness against thee ? And he answered him to never a 
word ; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the 
man were a Galilean, And as soon as he knew that he 


440 


THE BIBLICAL ItEADEfi. 


belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Her¬ 
od, who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. 

QUESTIONS. 

What counsel did Caiaphas give the Jews ?-What were the cir¬ 
cumstances of* Peter’s denying Christ ?-What did the officer do to 

Jesus for confessing himself Christ before Caiaphas?-What other 

insults did he receive before Caiaphas ?-Before whom was Jesus 

then brought ? — -To whom did Pilate send him ? 


Practical Observations. 

The fall of Peter, who, after having been warned by our Lord, and 
after having protested that he would never renounce him, did yet 
deny him three times, even with imprecations and oaths, is a sad in¬ 
stance of human inconstancy and fiailty. By which we see, that 
even those who have good intentions, may greatly fall, if they are 
not fortified against temptation : and that to secure ourselves from if, 
it behooves us to stand upon our guard, and to suspect ourselves ; to 
pray without ceasing and to shun the places, and avoid the occasions 
that may draw us into sin. But we must likewise consider, that if 
the fall ofPeter was great, his repentance was speedy, and that he bit¬ 
terly bewailed his fault. So we, when we happen to fall, ought to 
rise quickly, and atone for our sin by the tears of a sincere repentance, 
and by a true amendment of our lives. 

CHAP. CCXXII. 

Herod questions Jesus , and sends him back to Pilate , who 
seeks to release him , but afterwards delivers him to the 
Jews to be crucified. From the twenty-seventh Chap¬ 
ter of Matthew , the twenty-third Chapter of Luke , and 
the nineteenth Chapter of John. 

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad : 
for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because 
he had heard many things of him ; and he hoped to have 
seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned 
with him in many words ; but he answered him nothing. 
And the chief priests and scribes stood, and vehemently 
accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him 
at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gor¬ 
geous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief 
priests, and the rulers, and the people, said unto them, 
Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that pervert- 
eth the people : and behold I, having examined him be¬ 
fore you, have found no fault in this man, touching those 








THE BIBLICAL READER. 


44f. 


things whereof ye accuse him : No, nor yet Herod : for 
I sent you to him ; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is 
done unto him : I will therefore chastise him and re¬ 
lease him. 

Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto 
the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had 
then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore 
when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto 
them, Whom will ye that I release unto you ? Barabbas, 
or Jesus, which is called Christ? For he knew that for 
envy they had delivered him. 

When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife 
sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that 
just man : for 1 have suffered many things this day in a 
dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders 
persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas 
and destroy Jesus. The governor answered, and said 
ointo them, Whether of the twain will ye that 1 release 
unto you ? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto 
them. What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called 
Christ r They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 
And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done ? 
But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be cruci¬ 
fied. 

When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be 
crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus 
into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole 
band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him 
a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of 
thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right 
hand : and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked 
him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. And they spit 
upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 

Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith unto 
them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may 
know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus 
forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. 
And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the Man 1 When the 
chief priests, therefore, and officers saw him, they cried 
out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto 
them, Take ye him, and crucify him : for I find no fault 
in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and 
by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the 
Son of God. 




442 


THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the 
more afraid ; and went again into the judgment-hall, 
and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou r But Jesus gave 
him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou 
not unto me ? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify 
thee, and have power to release th.ee ? Jesus answered. 
Thou couldesthave no power at all against me, except it 
were given thee from above : therefore he that delivered md 
unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth" Pi¬ 
late sought to release him : but the Jews cried out, saying. 
If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar’s friend : whoso¬ 
ever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cesar. When 
Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he brought Jesus 
forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is 
called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 
And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the 
sixth hour $ and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your 
King ! But they cried out, Away with him, away with 
him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I cruci¬ 
fy your King ? The chief priests answered, We have no 
king but Cesar. 

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but 
that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and wash¬ 
ed his hands, before the multitude, saying, I am innocent 
of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. Then an¬ 
swered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and 
on our children. 

And he released unto them him that for sedition and 
murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired t 
but he delivered Jesus to their will. And after that they 
had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put 
his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 

QUESTIONS. 

What was clone with Jesus when before Herod ?-To whom did ‘ 

Herod send him ?-What was the governor wont to do at the 

feast of the Passover ?-How did Pilate propose to release Jesus ? 

-Why did he not release him ?-How was Jesus arrayed for 

crucifixion P-What prisoner was released ?-What did Pilate 

do when he delivered Jesus to be crucified.? 


Practical Observations. 

We have an example in Pilate of those that sin against light, and 
that sacrifice their duty and their conscience to fear, complaisance, 
and interest; as well as of those that think themselves guiltless w hen 
they are committing the greatest crimes, and that throw iin«n otL^ro 
flic faults of which they themselves arc the authors. Wq ought also 












THE BIBLICAL READER. 


443 


most seriously to reflect upon these words of the Jews, when our 
Lord was condemned, Ilis blood be on us and on our children. 
Both they and their posterity have found the effects of this impreca¬ 
tion, which they made against themselves ; God having revenged 
the death of his Son, upon that guilty nation, by the destruction of 
their city, and by that miserable condition in which they have re¬ 
mained ever since. 




CHAP. CCXXIII. 

Judas repents and hangs Himself. From the twenty-sev¬ 
enth Chapter of Matthew , and the first Chapter of the 
Acts of the Apostles. 

Th en Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw 
that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought 
again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Priests and 
elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the 
in ocent blood. And they said, \Vhat is that to us P see 
thou to that. And he cast cast down the pieces of sil¬ 
ver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged 
himself; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the 
midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 

And they took counsel, and bought with them the pot¬ 
ters’ field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field 
was called, The field of blood, unto this day. (Then 
was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the proph¬ 
et, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the 
price of him that was valued, whom they of the children 
of Israel did value; and gave them for the potters’ 
field, as the Lord appointed me.) 

QUESTIONS. 

What, did Judas do when he saw Jesus condemned ?-What be¬ 
came of him ?-What was done with the thirty pieces of money ? 

—■—What prophecy did this fulfil ? 


Practical Observations. 

The answer of the chief priests to Judas, was perfectly natural for 
men of their character. Men who had any feeling, any sentiments 
of common humanity, or even of common justice, would naturally 
have paused under these circumstances ; would have examined Ju¬ 
das, and investigated the grounds of his repentance. But this was very 
far from entering into their plan. With the guilt oi innocence of Je¬ 
sus they did not concern themselves. All they wanted was, the de¬ 
struction of a Man whom they hated and feared, and whose life and 
doctrine were a standing reproach to them. This was their sole ob¬ 
ject ; as to the mercy or the justice of the case, they were perfectly 











444 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


indifferent. The remorse of conscience Judas felt when he saw they 
were going to put Jesus to death, the confession he made of his crime, 
and his tragical end, show the innocence of our Lord, and how un¬ 
justly he was condemned. It likewise discovers the state of a guilty 
conscience, and the horror of that remorse and despair wherewith the 
wicked are tormented when they become sensible of their crimes, and 
are pursued by the divine vengeance. 


CHAP. CCXXIY. 

Jesus is led away to be crucified. From the twenty^sev- 
enth Chapter of Matthew , the fif eenth Chapter of 
Mark , the twenty-third Chapter of Luke , and the nine¬ 
teenth Chapter oj John. 

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one 
Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on 
him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 
And there followed him a great company of people, and 
of women which also bewailed and lamented him. But 
Jesus turning unto them, said. Daughters of Jerusalem, 
weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your 
children. 

And there were also two others, malefactors, led with 
him to be put to death. And when they were come unto 
a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 
They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall : and 
when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And 
they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots : 
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the proph¬ 
et, They parted my garments among them, and upon my 
vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down, they 
watched him there : and set up over his head his accusa¬ 
tion written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE 
JEWS. 

This title then read many of the Jews : for the place 
where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city : and it 
was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then 
said the chief Priesis of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, 
The king of the Jews : but that he said, l am King of the 
Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have 
written. 

And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 
And with him they crucify two thieves ; the one on his 
right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture 
was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with 
the transgressors. 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


445 


Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them ; for they know 
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and 
cast lots. And they that passed by, reviled him, wag¬ 
ging their heads, and saying, Thou thatdestroyest the tem¬ 
ple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou 
be the Son of God, conic down from the cross. Like¬ 
wise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes 
and elders, said, He saved others ; himself he cannot 
save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down 
rom the cross, and we will believe in him. He trust¬ 
ed in God : let him deliver him now r if he will have him : 
for he said, I am the Son of God. And the soldiers also 
mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 
and saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thy¬ 
self. 

And one of the malefactors which was hanged, railed 
on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 
But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not 
thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? 
and we indeed justly ; for we receive the due reward of 
our deeds : but this man hath done nothing amiss. And 
he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou 
comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, 
Verilv I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in 
paratlise. 

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and 
his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary 
Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and 
the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his 
mother, Woman, behold thy son ! Then saith he to the 
disciple, Behold thy mother ! And from that hour that 
disciple took her unto his own home. 

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all 
the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour 
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sa- 
bachthani ? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast 
thou forsaken me ? Some of them that stood there, when 
they heard that, said. This man callethfor Elias. And 
straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled 
it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to 
drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias 
will come to save him. When Jesus therefore had re¬ 
ceived the vinegar, he said, It is finished : and he bowed 
his head, and gave up the ghost. 

Go 




446 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain 
from the top to the bottom : and the earth did quake, and 
the rocks rent; and the graves were opened, and many 
bodies of the saints which slept, arose, and came out ot the 
graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, 
and appeared unto many. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who was compelled to bear the cross of Christ ?-W hat did Je¬ 
sus say to the women who followed him ?-At wliat place was i.e 

crucified?-What insults did he there receive?-What was done 

with his garments?-What did the malefactors crucified with him 

say ?-What miracles were wrought when he expired ? 


Practical Observations. 

Behold the Son of God, pouring forth his blood, as well as pray¬ 
ers, even for those that shed it : heboid him at once bearing the in¬ 
sults, expiating the sins, and procuring the happiness of mankind, 
till at last he hows his sacred head, and shuts up the solemn scene, 
with these short but comprehensive words, “ It is finished.” The 
great, the stupendous work is done, the universal sacrifice, which 
shall take in all mankind, and which all mankind shall contemplate 
throughout eternity with awful joy and gratitude is completed. And 
can we receive these astonishing endearments, this prodigious ex¬ 
pense of goodness, which, like the blessed effects that we are to re¬ 
ceive from it, is such as , il eye had not seen” before, “ nor ear heard,” 
nor “had it entered into the heart of man to conceive,” with a dull in¬ 
sensibility and a stupid indifference ? 

An act of mercy so new and astonishing, that language must ever 
fail and eloquence be struck dumb, in attempting to describe it! 
With what zeal and gratitude then should the breast of ever) Chris¬ 
tian be affected, when he considers that for him and his salvation this 
stupendous act of love was undertaken and accomplished ! With 
what ardor of affection and piety should we be filled, when we thus 
behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us! If 
we are not so, even inanimate nature may justly reproach our in¬ 
gratitude and insensibility. For, whilst the Lord of life expired, the 
graves opened, the rocks rent, and the sun withdrew his shining. 

CHAP. CCXXV. 

The Transactions that followed the Crucificim of Christ , 
on the same and the following Day. From the twenty- 
seventh Chapter of Matthew , the fifteenth Chapter of 
Mark , the twenty-third Chapter of Fake , and the nine¬ 
teenth Chapter nf John. 

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him. 
watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things 
that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this 

















THE BIBLICAL READER, 


44 r 


was the Son of God. And all the people that came to¬ 
gether to that sight, beholding the things which were 
done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his 
acquaintance, and all the women that followed him from 
Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. 

The Jews, therefore, because it was the preparation, 
that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the 
sabbath-day, (for that sabbath-day was an high day,) be¬ 
sought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that 
they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and 
brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was 
crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and 
saw that he was dead already, they brake npt his legs; 
but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and 
forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that 
saw it bare record, and his record is true ; and he know- 
eth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these 
things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, 
A bone of him shall not be broken. And again, anoth¬ 
er scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they 
pierced. 

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a coun¬ 
sellor : and he was a good man, and a just : (the same 
had not consented to the counsel and deed of them :) he 
was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews ; who also himself 
waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto 
Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And Pilate mar¬ 
velled if he were already dead ; and calling unto him the 
Centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while 
dead. And when he knew it of the Centurion, he gave 
the body to Joseph. And there came also Nicodemus, 
(which at the first came to Jesus by night,) and brought 
a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound 
weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound 
it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the 
Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was cruci¬ 
fied there was a garden ; and in the garden a new sepul¬ 
chre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they 
Jesus therefore, because of the Jew's’ preparation-day $ for 
the sepulchre was nigh at hand. 

And the women also, which came with him from Gali¬ 
lee, followed after and beheld the sepulchre, and how 
his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared 
spices and ointment; and rested the sabbath-day, ac* 
cording to the commandment. 







448 


THE BIBLICAL READER: 


Now, the next clay, that followed the day of the prep- 
aration, the chief priests and pharisees, came togeth¬ 
er unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiv¬ 
er said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will 
rise again. Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be 
made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by 
night, and steal him away, and say unto the people he is 
risen from the dead : so the last error shall be worse than 
the first. Pilate said unto them ye have a watch ; go 
your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and 
made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a 
watch. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who begged of Pilate the body of Jesus ?-What did they d« 

with it ?-Mow were the people affected on seeing that Jesus was 

crucified ?-Who prepared the spices and ointment with which the 

body was to be embalmed ?-What did Pilate do afterwards that th# 

body might not be stolen ? 


Practical Observations. 

Who can reflect on the state of the poor disciples, during the whole of 
the time in which our blessed Lord lay under the empire of death, with¬ 
out showing their sorrows! When he expired on the cross, their expecta¬ 
tion was cut oft': and when his body was laid in the grave, their hopes 
were buried : and nothing but the resurrection of Christ from the 
dead, could have given a resurrection to their hopes. It is true they 
had heard him say, that he would rise again the third day ; but in 
this, it is evident, their faith was very imperfect; and the uncertainty, 
perplexity, anxiety and distress which they, in consequence, must 
have suffered, can neither be desciibed nor imagined. Though we 
know the glorious result, yet who can help sympathizing with the 
pious father, the virgin mother, and the disconsolate disciples ! 

-*»*#®#«** 

CHAP. CCXXYI. 

The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. From the 
twenty‘eighth Chapter of Matthew, the twenty-fourth 
Chapter of Luke , the twentieth Chapter of John , and < 
the first Chapter of Acts. 1 

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn towards 
the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and 
the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And they found 
the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they en¬ 
tered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed 
there-about, behold two men stood by them in shining 
garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down 










THE BIBLICAL READER. 


449 


their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek 
ye the living among the dead ? He is not here •, for he is 
risen, as he said. Come see the place where the Lord 
lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples, that he is 
risen from the dead ; and, behold, he goeth before you 
into Galilee ; there shall ye see him : lo, I have told 
you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre, 
with fear and great joy •, and did run to bring his disci¬ 
ples word. 

Peter, therefore, went forth, and that other disciple, 
and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together ; 
and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to 
the sepulchre. And he stooping down and looking in, 
saw the linen clothes lying : yet went he not in. Then 
cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the 
sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie ? and the 
napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen 
clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then 
, went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sep¬ 
ulchre, and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew 
. not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 

! Now Jesus, after he was risen from the dead, early the- 
first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene 
and the other Mar}''—after that he was seen of Peter— 
after that he appeared to two disciples as they were going 
, to Eminaus. Afterwards, when the eleven disciples 
were gathered together, Jesus stood in the midst of them,, 
and said unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were 
terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen 
a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? 
and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? Behold my 
hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and 
see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me 
have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them 
-1 his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not 
for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here 
any meat ? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, 
and of a honey-comb. And he took it, and did eat be¬ 
fore them, and said unto them, Thus it is written, 
and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from 
the dead the third day ; and that repentance and remis¬ 
sion of sins should be preached in his name among a:l 
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses 
of these things. 

And after eight days, Jesus again stood in the midst of 
the disciples, and said. Peace be unto you- Then saitK 
i O o 2 









450 THE BIBLICAL READER 

he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my 
hands ; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my 
side : and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas 
answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my God. 
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen 
me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not 
seen, and yet have believed. 

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the 
disciples at the sea of Tiberias ; and on this wise show¬ 
ed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and 
Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Gal¬ 
ilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his dis¬ 
ciples. So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon 
Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than 
these : He saith unto him, Yea, Lord ; thou knowest 
that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 
He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, son of 
Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord $ 
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, 
Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Si¬ 
mon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved 
because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou 
me ? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all 
things ; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto 
him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 
When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walk- 
edst whither thou wouldst: but when thou shalt be old, 
thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird 
thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This 
spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God. 
And, when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Fol¬ 
low me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple 
whom Jesus loved following ; which also leaned on 
his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that 
betrayeth thee ? Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, 
and what shall this man do ? Jesus saith unto him, If 
l will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? 
Follow thou me. 

Jesus showed himself alive after his sufferings by many 
infallible proofs, being seen of his disciples forty days, 
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of 
God ; and, at the end of forty days, being assembled to¬ 
gether with them at a mountain of Galilee, he said, all 
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, 





THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


451 


therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you ; and, lo, I am with you always 
even unto the end of the world. Ye shall receive power, 
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you ; and ye 
shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and all 
Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of 
the earth. 

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lift¬ 
ed up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to 
pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, 
and carried up into heaven. And while they looked 
steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two 
men stood by them in white apparel ; which also said, 
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? 
This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heav¬ 
en, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him 
go into heaven. And they worshipped him, and return¬ 
ed to Jerusalem with great joy : and were continually in 
the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who are mentioned as going first to see the sepulchre ?-Whom 

did they see there ?——Who next visited the sepulchre ?-To 

whom is it mentioned that Christ at different times appeared ?_ 

How long did lie remain on earth after his resurrection ?-From 

what place did he ascend into heaven ? 


Practical Observations. 

There are then no less than eight distinct appearances of our Lord to 
his disciples after his resurrection, recorded by the sacred historians ; 
in regard to these, it is quite impossible that there should have been 
any delusion or imposition, and that all those different persons could 
be deceived in these appearances of One whose countenance, figure, 
voice, and manner, they had for so long a time been perfectly well 
acquainted, and who now, not merely presented himself to their view 
transiently and silently, but ate and drank and conversed with him, and 
suffered them to touch hirn and examine him thoroughly, that they 
might be convinced by all their senses, that it was truly their beloved 
Master, and not a spirit that conversed with them. It is quite impos¬ 
sible that the disciples should have invented a tale to impose upon 
others, because it would have been an imposition, not only on others, 
but on themselves ; it would have been an attempt to persuade them¬ 
selves that their Master was risen when really he was not; from 
whence no possible benefit could arise to them, but on the contrary, 
grief, disappointment, and mortification in the extreme. 








455 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CC XXVII. 

The Descent of the Holy Ghost, or the Day of Pentecost. 

From the second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. 

When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were 
all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there 
came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, 
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And 
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, 
and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled 
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other 
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance And there 
were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of 
every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised 
abroad, the multitude came together, and were confound¬ 
ed, because that every man heard them speak in his own 
language. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, 
saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which 
speak, Galileans ? and how hear we every man in our 
own tongue, wherein we were born ? And they were all 
amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, 
What meaneth this ? 

But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up 
his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, 
and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known 
unto you, and hearken to my words : Jesus of Nazareth, 
a man approved of God among you by miracles and won¬ 
ders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of 
you, as ye yourselves also know : him, being delivered 
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, 
ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and 
slain : whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains 
of death : because it was not possible that he should b$ 
holden of it. Therefore being by the right hand of God 
exalted, and having received of the Father the promise 
of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now 
see and hear. And let all the house of Israel know as¬ 
suredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye 
have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their 
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles. 
Men and brethren, what shall we do ? Then Peter said 
unto them. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in 
the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, 
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the 
promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all 




THE BIBLICAL READER. 


455 


that are afar oft', even as many as the Lord our God shall 
call. And with many other words did lie testify and ex¬ 
hort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward gene¬ 
ration. 

Then they that gladly received his word, were bap¬ 
tized : and the same day there were added, unto them 
about three thousand souls. And they continued stead¬ 
fastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in 
breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon 
every soul : and many wonders and signs were done by 
the apostles. And all that believed were together, and 
had all things common ; and, sold their possessions and 
goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had 
need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in 
the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did 
eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 
praising God, and having favour with all the people. 
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should 
lie saved. 

QUESTIONS. 

What took place upon the day of Pentecost ?-Which one of 

the apostles addressed the multitude ?-What inquiry did they 

make when Peter had finished speaking ?-What reply did he 

give them ?-How many were baptized at this time ?-What 

did they do with their possessions ? 

Practical Observations. 

It is the Holy Spirit of God which is the sole author and spring 
of all true delight, of all real content within us ; of that unspeaka¬ 
ble joy in believing, that confidence of hope, that satisfaction in 
well-doing. And since such are the unspeakable benefits accruing 
to us from this most excellent gift of God by him graciously confer¬ 
red on all good Christians, we should correspondently endeavour to 
make grateful and worthy returns for this gift by using it to those good 
purposes for which it is bestowed. Let us then earnestly invite this 
Holy Guest unto us by our prayers and willingly receive him in our 
hearts. Let us not exclude him by supine neglect and rude resist¬ 
ance ; let us not grieve him by our perverse and froward behaviour; 
let us not tempt him by our fond presumptions or base treacheries ; 
let us not quench his heavenly light and heat by our foul lusts and 
passions ; but let us ever hearken gladly to his faithful suggestions 
and comply with his kindly motions. 

CHAP. CCXXVIII. 

Martyrdom of Stephen , and the Miraculous Conversion 
of Saul. From the sixth , seventh , eighth , and ninU ► 
Chapters of jicts. 

Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders 
and miracles among the people. Then there arose cer¬ 
tain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of 










454 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of 
them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the 
spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, 
which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words 
against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up 
the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came 
upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the coun¬ 
cil, and set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceas- 
eth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, 
and the law : For we have heard him say, that this Jesus 
of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change 
the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat 
in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as 
it had been the face of an angel. 

Then said the high priest, are these things so ? And 1 
when they had heard the answer of Stephen, they were 
cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their 
teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up 
steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and 
Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Be¬ 
hold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man 
standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out 
with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon 
him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and 
stoned him : and the witnesses laid down their clothes 
at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they 
stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord 
Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and 
cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their 
charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that 
time there was a great persecution against the church 
which was at Jerusalem ; and they were all scattered abroad 
throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the 
apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, 
and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he 
made havock of the church, entering into every house, 
and haling men and women, committed them to prison ; 
and breathing out threatenings and slaughter against 
the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and 
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, 
that if he found any of this way, whether they were men 
or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

As Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus : and sud¬ 
denly there shined round about him a light from heaven : 







Death of Stephen.... Page 454. 



Conversion of Paul ....Page 455. 


















































































THE BIBLICAL RfeAbER. 


455 


and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saving unto 
him, Saul, Saul, why persetutest thou me ? And lie said, 
AV ho art thou, Lord ? The Lord said, I am Jesus, whom 
thou persecutest. lie trembling and astonished said, 
Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? The Lord said 
unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told 
thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed 
with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no 
man. And Saul arose from the earth ; and when his 
eyes were opened he saw no man ; but they led him by 
the hand, and brought him in to Damascus. And he was 
three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

And meie was a certain disciple at Damascus, named 
Ananias ; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. 
And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord 
said unto him, Arise, and go into the sireet which is call¬ 
ed Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one 
called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, lie prayeih, and hath 
seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in, and 
putting his hand on him, that he might receive ins sight. 

Then Ananias answered, Lord, 1 nave heard by many 
of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at 
Jerusalem : and here lie hath authority from the chief 
priests to bind ail that call on thy name. But the Lord 
said unto him, Go thy way : for he is a chosen vessel 
unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, 
and the children of Israel. For I will show him how 
great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the 
house ; and, putting his hands oil him, said, Brother 
Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in 
the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest 
1 receive thy sight, and be filled w r itli the Holy Ghost. 

: And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been 
1 scales ; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and 
, was baptized. And w hen lie had received meat, he was 
strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the itis- 
cipies w’hicli were at Damascus. And straightway ha 
preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of 
God. Butall they that heard him were amazed, and said, 
Is not this he that destroyed them which called oil his 
name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that 
lie might bring them bound unto the chief priests P But 
Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the 
Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is 
very Christ. 





456 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


QUESTIONS. . 

What is first said of Stephen in this chapter ?-Who disputed 

-with him ?-Of what did they accuse him ?-What was his end ? 

-Who is said to have consented to his death ? -What is said of 

Saul ?——Where and on what occasion did the Lord appear to him ? 
-What is related of Ananias in relation to Saul’s conversion ? 


Practical Observations. 

In the history of St. Paul’s conversion, we should observe the ex¬ 
ceeding great goodness of our blessed Lord, both towards St. Paul 
nnd towards the Church. How kind and gracious were the words 
that he spoke, “ Saul, Saul, why persecutes! thou me ? ” intimating 
the love and tenderness he had for all his true followers, insomuch 
that he looked upon any injuries committed against them, as so many 
injuries committed against himself. He next gave a seasonable and 
very affecting caution. “ I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” I am 
Jesus the Saviour of the world : It is hard for thee to contend with 
one so much mightier than thou art: stop thy career, and retreat in 
time. These were moving arguments, and pierced to the very soul. 
But, to make the impression still stronger, he was pleased to surround 
him with a dazzling light, and to strike him blind for a season. He 
had thus a better opportunity of retiring inwards, for the purpose of 
recollecting and considering. These outward means, together with 
inward grace, had their full effect, and made Saul become a very obe¬ 
dient and humble convert to the faith of Christ. We should adore 
that miraculous grace which called him to be an Apostle, and bless 
God for the advantages we have derived from his indefatigable la¬ 
bours. And though we have been great sinners, we should encour¬ 
age ourselves from his example, with hopes of acceptance, provided 
we sincerely repent: remembering the best way to show the sincer¬ 
ity of our conversion is, by actions opposite to our former sins, that 
those virtues may be most conspicuous in our turning to God, which 
have been most neglected in our state of folly. 

§©««“ 

CHAP. CCXXIX. 

The Conversion of Lydia and the Jailer . From the six- : 

teenth Chapter of *dcts. 

On the sabbath we went out of the city, (Philippi) by 
a river side, where prayer was wont to be made / and j 
we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted 'j 
thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of ! 
purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, 
beard us : whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended j 
unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she 
was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying. 
If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into j 
my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 

And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain 
damsel, possessed with a sj irit of divination, met us, 
which brought her masters much gain by sooth-saying : 














THE BIBLICAL READER. 


457 


i 

i?! 

of 

ll? 


i 


4 

id 

n 

tlr 

D 

i 

id 

hi 

of 

■> 

■e 

s 

a- 

ir- 

d 

r< 

it 

li 


T 


f 

t 

J 


) 

I 


the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These 
men are the servants of the most high God, which show 
unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many 
days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the 
spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to 
come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains 
was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them in¬ 
to the market-place unto the rulers, and brought them to 
the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do ex¬ 
ceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs which are 
not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Ro¬ 
mans. And the multitude rose up together against them : 
and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and command¬ 
ed to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes 
upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer 
to keep them safely : who having received such a charge, 
thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet 
fast in the stocks. 

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang 
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And 
suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the 
•foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately 
all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands 
were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out 
of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew 
out his sword, and would have killed himself; supposing 
that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a 
loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm :. for we are all 
here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and 
came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas ; and 
brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be 
saved r They said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unt 
him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in h s 
house. And he took them the same hour of the night, 
and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he and all 
his, straightway. 

When he had brought them into his house, he set meat 
before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his 
house. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the 
sergeants, saying. Let those men go. And the keeper of 
the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have 
sent to let you go ; now therefore depart, and go in 
peace. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten US 

P p 






458 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us int« 
prison ; and now do they thrust us out privily ? nay 
verily $ but let them come themselves and letch us out. 
And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates : 
and they feared when they heat'd that they were Romans. 
And they came and besought them, and brought them out, 
and desired them to depart out of the city. And they 
went out of the prison, and entered into the house ol 
Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they com¬ 
forted them, and departed. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is related of Lydia ?-For what were Paul and Silas im 

prisoned?-How were they delivered from prison ?-What took 

place with the Jailer after the earthquake ?-What caused the 

magistrates to be afraid ?-Where did Paul and Silas go on leaving 

the prison ? 

Practical Observations. 

The question which the trembling and astonished jailer put to Paul 
and Silas, when he saw the prison doors opened in a miraculous man¬ 
ner, is a question of the utmost moment and importance, in which it 
nearly concerns us all to be well resolved. For, if there be a life 
beyond the present, and we do not die like beasts that perish, if 
death do not put a final peiiod to our existence ; but when this short 
life is ended, we enter upon the regions of eternity, and shall be for¬ 
ever happy or miserable, according as we demean ourselves in this 
■short time of trial and probation ; if this be the condition of mankind, 
(as the voice of reason, the dictates of conscience, and the Holy 
Scriptures, do loudly proclaim it is,) how does it behoove every one 
of us to inquire what we must do to attain everlasting life, and to 
consider whether we are in the way that leads to heaven and immortal¬ 
ity : or, if we have been so unhappy as to wander out of it, how we 
may recover and return to it again. 

44 «-• 

CHAP. CCXXX. 

Paul’s Defence before King Jlgrippa . From the twenty- 

sixth Chapter of Acts. 

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall 
answer for myself this clay before thee, touching all the 
things whereof I am accused of the Jews : Especially, 
because I know thee to be expert in all customs and ques¬ 
tions which are among the Jews : wherefore I beseech 
thee to bear me patiently. My manner of life from my 
youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at 
Jerusalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the 
beginning, (if they would testify) that after the most 
straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And 
now I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promise 
made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our 
twelve tribes* instantly serving God day and night, hope 











THE BIBLICAL HEADER. 


459 


to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, lam ac¬ 
cused ol the Jews. Why should it be thought a tiling 
incredible with you, that God should raise the dead ? 1 
verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things 
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing 
I also did in Jerusalem : and many of the saints did I 
shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief 
priests ; and when they were put to death, l gave my 
voice against them. And I punished them oft in every 
synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme ; and being 

! exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them 6ven 
unto strange cities. Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, 
with authority and commission from the chief priests, 
at mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, 
above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, 
and them which journeyed with me. And when we were 
all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, 
and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why perse- 
cutest thou me ? It is hard for thee to kick against the 
pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, 
I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand 
upon thy feet : for [ have appeared unto thee for this 
purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of 
these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in 
the which l will appear unto thee ; delivering thee from 
the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send 
thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness 
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that 
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance 
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto 
the heavenly vision : but shewed first unto them of Da¬ 
mascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts 
of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should re¬ 
pent and turn to God, and do works meet for repent¬ 
ance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the tem¬ 
ple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obr 
tained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing 
both to small and great, saying none other things than 
those which the prophets and Moses did say should 
come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be 
the first that should rise from the dead, and should show 
light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. And as he 
thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, 
Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make 
thee inad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Fes - 



4G9 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


tus 5 but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 
For the king knoweth of these things, before whom I also 
speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these 
things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done 
in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ? 
I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto 
Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 
And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but 
also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and al¬ 
together such as I am, except these bonds. And when 
he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor* 
and Bernice, and they that sat with them : and when they 
were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying. 
This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds.. 
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have 
been-set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar. 


Practical Observations. 

We see how great was the evidence and force of what the Apostle 
delivered when the king owns himself almost persuaded to become a 
Christian. And why not altogether ? Was it for want of sufficient 
proofs ? Certainly not. The arguments which the Apostle used, 
were so convincing, that had he only thoroughly and seriously 
given his attention to them, he would have been not only almost, but 
altogether persuaded. It was not therefore for want of evidence that 
he was only almost convinced, but for want of due consideration and 
attention*, He would not give himself leisure thoroughly to weigh 
.these things, agreeably to their importance. He was in haste, and 
had other things to mind. This history affords to all Christians a 
very instructive and important lesson. In how lively a manner does 
this king represent the case of multitudes in our day, who are often 
almost persuaded to become Christians; that is, true, sincere, and 
faithful disciples of Christ, yet through the power of their lusts, and 
their love of the world, are never thoroughly persuaded, and come 
to a full resolution ! In one sense, indeed, they are Christians : that 
is, they profess the Christian name, to which they have been bred, 
and they perhaps see the evidence of the truth of the Gospel, so that 
they cannot but believe it. To them the same appeal may be made, 
which St. Paul made to Agrippa ; but still they are not persuaded 
to become the subjects of Christ indeed, and to be governed by his 
holy laws. 

CHAP. CCXXXI. 

An Exhortation to Union among Christians , as Members 
of one Body. From the twelfth Chapter of Romans. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of 
God, that ye present your bodies a living* sacrifice, holy, 
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 



THE biblical reader. 


461 


And be not conformed to this world : but be ye trans- 
tormed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove 
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. 
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man 
,, that is among you, not to think of himself more highly 
than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according 
as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 
For as we have many members in one body, and all mem¬ 
bers have not the same office ; so we, being many, are 
one body in Christ, and every one members one of an¬ 
other. 

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is 
given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to 
the proportion of faith ; or ministry, let us wait on our min¬ 
istering : or lie that teacheth, on teaching ; or he that ex- 
horteth, on exhortation : he that giveth, let him do it 
with simplicity ; he that ruleth, with diligence ; he that 
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which 
is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affec- 
tioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour 
preferring one another ; not slothful in business ; fervent 
in spirit ; serving the Lord ; rejoicing in hope ; patient 
in tribulation ; continuing instant in prayer ; distribut¬ 
ing to the necessity of saints ; given to hospitality* 
Bless them which persecute you : bless, and curse not. 
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them, 
that weep. Be of the same mind one towards another. 
Mind not high things, but condesceud to men of low es¬ 
tate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense 
to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest.in the sight 
of all men. 

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peacea¬ 
bly with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not your¬ 
selves, but rather give place unto wrath : tor it is writ¬ 
ten, Vengeance is mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord. 
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, 
give him drink : for in so doing thou shalt heap coals ol 
fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome 
evil with good. 


Practical Observations. 

The difference between humility and pride consists in this, that the 
humble man, of whatever talents he is possessed, considers'them as so 
many trusts reposed in him by God, which are so far from raising his 
pride, that they excite his caution; as knowing tjiat to “ whom much 

Pp2 





462 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


is given, of him much will be required.” Whereas the proud vali¬ 
nes himself, as if he were not only the subject, but the author of 
those good qualities, and so makes an idol of himself instead of 
adoring and thanking God for them. The proud man is dazzled 
with the lustre of his own excellencies; whereas the humble man, 
though not insensible of particular endowments, yet thinks meanly 
of himself absolutely and upon the whole, and begs that God would 
“ not weigh Ins merits, but pardon his offences.” 

CHAP. CCXXXII. 

Christians exhorted not to censure or condemn one another 

for Matters of Indifference . From the fourteenth and 

fifteenth Chapters of Romans* 

H im that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to 
doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat. 
all things ; another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not 
him that eateth, despise him that eateth not ; and let not 
him that eateth not, judge him that eateth : for God hath 
received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s 
servant ? to his own master he standeth or falleth : yea, 
he shall be holden up : for God is able to make him 
stand. One man esteemeth one day above another : an¬ 
other esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be 
fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the 
day, regardeth it unto the Lord : and he that regardeth 
not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that 
eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks ; 
and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and 
giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, 
and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we 
live unto the Lord ; and w hether we die, we die unto the 
Lord : whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the 
Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and 
revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and liv¬ 
ing. But why dost thou judge thy brother ? or why dost 
thou set at nought thy brother ? for we shall all stand be¬ 
fore the judgment-seat of Christ. For it is written, As 
I live saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and 
every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of 
us shall give account of himself to God. 

Let us not therefore judge one another any more : but 
judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or 
an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. I know, and am 
persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing un¬ 
clean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


463 

unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be 
grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. 
Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died. 
Let not then your good be evil spoken of: for the king¬ 
dom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and 
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these 
things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God and approved 
of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which 
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify an¬ 
other. For meat destroy not the work of God. All 
things indeed are pure $ but it is evil for that man who 
eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor 
to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stum- 
bleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith ? 
have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that con- 
demneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because be 
eateth not of faith : for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of 
the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one 
of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 
For even Christ pleased not himself ; but, as it is written, 
The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 
For whatsoever tilings were written aforetime, were writ¬ 
ten for our learning, that we through pa’ticnce and com¬ 
fort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of 
patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one 
towards another according to Christ Jesus : that ye may 
with one mind ar.d one mouth glorify God, even the Fa¬ 
ther of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye 
one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of 
God. 

. - 

Practical Observations. 

Even such actions as appear to us allowable, yet if they appear evil to 
others, it is, ordinarily speaking, both our prudence and our duty, to 
abstain from, as much as with tolerable convenience we can. What¬ 
ever indeed on mature consideration we are fully persuaded we ought 
to do, that we must do, let the world think as it will. But where we 
apprehend a thing to be only permitted, if the wise will disapprove of 
it, or the injudicious misinterpret it, if the good will be afflicted, or 
the bad rejoice at it; if rigid and warm tempers will be guilty of cen¬ 
surin'* us for it rashly, or easy and complying ones follow us in it 
aTainst their judgment; if our taking harmless liberties will encour¬ 
age others to take sinful ones ; in short, if any how, by doing what 
otherwise we might, we shall induce any one else to do what he 
ou«4it not: the great law of Christian charity requires, that “ no man 
put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way ” 
or do any thing whereby he is grieved, “ or offended, or made weak.” 




464 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


CHAP. CCXXXIII. 

Character of Christian Charity. From the thirteenth 
Chapter of the first of Corinth ians. 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of 
angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding 
brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift 
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all 
knowledge ; and though I have all faith, so that I could 
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and 
though I give my body to be burned, and have not chari¬ 
ty, it protiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and 
is kind ; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, 
is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemingly, 
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no 
evil ; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoicetli in the truth ; 
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, 
endureth all things. Charity never faileth : but whether 
there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be 
tongues they shall cease; whether there be knowl¬ 
edge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, 
and we prophesy in part. But when that which is per¬ 
fect is come, then that which is in part shall be done 
away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I under¬ 
stood as a child, I thought as a child : but when I be¬ 
came a man, I put away childish things. For now we 
see through a glass, darkly ; but then face to face : now 
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am 
known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these 
three : but the greatest of these is charity. 


Practical Observations. 

Charity is that principle of love and friendship which preserves 
the unity of the Christian society, and binds Christians to Christ 
and to one another as members of his mystical body—it unites 
upon earth those who are to be united in heaven ; and there¬ 
fore it must be the constant endeavor of every true Christian to 
promote it by every method in his power; by his words and works • 
his conversation and example. 

The apostle says, that those who are possessed with the virtue of 
charity, are neither envious, nor haughty, nor suspicious, nor self- 
interested, nor peevish, nor quarrelsome ; but that they are patient 
meek, peaceable; that they judge charitably of their neighbour; that 
they do good; that they bear till things. This disposition of charity 
and its several effects, plainly proves that charity is the sum of all other 
virtues, and the true way to discharge all the duties of Christianity 



THE BIBLICAL READER. 


m 


CHAP. CCXXXIV. 

The Doctrine of the Resurrection. From the fifteenth 
Chapter of the first of Corinthians. 

Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the 
first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came 
death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 
For as in Adam ail die, even so in Christ shall all be 
made alive. Put every man in his own order: Christ 
the first-fruits ; afterwards they that are Christ’s at his 
coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have de¬ 
livered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; when 
he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and 
power. For he hath put all things under his feet. But 
when he saith all things are put under him, it is mani¬ 
fest that he is excepted which did put all things under 
him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, 
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that 
put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up ? 
and with what body do they come ? Thou fool, that which 
thou sowest is not quickened except it die : And that 
which thou sowest, thou sowest not that bodj^ that shall 
be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some 
other grain : But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased 
him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not 
the same flesh ; but there is one kind of flesh of men, 
another flesh of beast, another of fishes, and another of 
birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies ter¬ 
restrial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and the 
glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of 
the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory 
of the stars •, for one star differeth from another star in 
glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown 
in corruption, it is raised in incorruption : It is sown in 
dishonour, it is raised in glory : it is sown in weakness, 
it is raised in power : It is sown a natural body, it is 
raised a spiritual body. 

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 
And so it is written, The first man Adam w r as made a 
living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 
Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that 
which is natural ; and afterward that which is spiritual. 
The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second man is 





466 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they 
also that are earthy : and as is the heavenly, sucli are 
they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the 
image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the 
heavenly. 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot 
inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption in¬ 
herit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: We 
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a 
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : 
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised 
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corrupt¬ 
ible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must 
put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall 
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have 
put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the 
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
O death, where is thy sting? Ograve, where is thy victory ? 
The sting of death is sin $ and the strength of sin is the 
law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved 
brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding 
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your 
labour is not in vain in the Lord. 


Practical Observations. 

Let the consideration of that unspeakable reward, which God hath 
promised to good men at the resurrection, encourage us to obedience 
and a holy life. We serv-e a great Prince, who is able to promote us 
to honour, a most gracious Master, who will not let the least service 
we do for him, pass unrewarded. This is the inference which the 
Apostle makes from his large discourse of the doctrine of the res¬ 
urrection in this chapter. “ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 
steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work ofthe Lord, for¬ 
asmuch as ye know }our labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Nothing 
will make death more welcome to us, than a constant course of service 
and obedience to God. “Sleep,” seith Solomon, is sweet to the labour¬ 
ing man.” So after a great diligence and industry in working out our 
salvation,and as it is said of David,serving our generation according 
to the will of God,” how pleasant will it be to fall asleep t And, as a 
useful and well spent life will make our death to be sweet, so will 
it make our resurrection to be glorious. Whatever acts of piety we 
do to God, or of charity to men ; whatever we lay out upon the poor 
and aillicted and necessitous, will all be considered by God for Christ’s 
..sake in the day of recompense, and most plentifully rewarded to us. 



THE BIBLICAL READER# 


46r 


CIIAP. CCXXXV. 

Relative Duties. From the sixth Chapter of Ephesians , 
the third Chapter of Cotossians, and the second and 
third Chapters of the First Epistle of Peter. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord : for this 
is right. Honour thy father and mother (which is the 
first commandment with -promise) that it may be welL 
with thee, and thou mayest livelong on the earth. 

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath : 
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord. 

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters 
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in single¬ 
ness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, 
as men-pleasers ; but as the servants of Christ, doing the 
will of God from the heart ; with good will doing ser¬ 
vice, as to the Lord, and not to men : knowing that 
whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he 
receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, for¬ 
bearing threatening : knowing that your master also is in 
heaven ; neither is there respect of persons with him. 

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as 
it is fit in the Lord. 

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against 
them. 

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the 
Lord’s sake : whether it be to the king, as supreme ; 
or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for 
the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them 
that do well. 

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one 
of another ; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous ; 
not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing : but 
contrariwise, blessing ; knowing that ye are thereunto 
called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

•***§®#«*- 

CHAP. CCXXXVI. 

Christian Precepts and Exhortations. From ike fifth and 
sixth Chapter of Galatians, the second and fourth Chap¬ 
ter of Ephesians, and the fourth Chapter of Philippians. 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, 
gentleness, goodness, faith,meekness, temperance: against 





468 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 


such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have 
crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. If we 
live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us 
not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, en¬ 
vying one another. 

Let us not be weary in well-doing : for in due season 
we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore op¬ 
portunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto 
them who are of the household of faith. 

By grace are ye saved, through faith : and that not of 
yourselves : it is the gift of God : not of works, lest any 
man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created 
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before 
ordained that we should walk in them. 

I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation 
wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meek¬ 
ness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; 
endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond 
of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye, 
are called in one hope of your calling ; one Lord, one 
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is 
above all, and through all, and in you all. 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, 
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all mal¬ 
ice: And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, for¬ 
giving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath 
forgiven you. 

Rejoice in the Lord always : and again I say, Re¬ 
joice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. 
The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing ; but in 
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 
let your requests be made known unto God. And the 

I jeace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall 
Leep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brethren, w hatsoever things are true, whatsoev¬ 
er things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever 
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever 
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there 
be any praise, think on these things. Those things, 
which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, 
and seen in me, do : and the God of peace shall be with 
you. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; 
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be 
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 


469 


THE BIBLICAL READER. 

CHAP. CCXXXVII. 

Christian Precepts and Exhortations. From the sixth 
Chapter of the First Epistle of Timothy , and the first 
and second Chapter of James. 

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we 
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can 
carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us 
be therewith content. But they that will be rich, fall 
into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and 
hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdi¬ 
tion. For the love of money is the root of all evil : which 
while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, 
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
But thou, 0 man of God, flee these things ; and follow 
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meek¬ 
ness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal 
life, whereunto thou art also called, aud hast professed 
a good profession.before many witnesses. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that 
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it 
^ shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing 
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the 
sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for when 
he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the 
Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man 
say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God : for God 
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any 
man : But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away 
of his own lust, and enticed. Do not err, my beloved 
brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from 
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with 
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, de¬ 
ceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the 
word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding 
his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and 
goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of 
man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law ot 
liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful 
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed 
in his deed If any man among you seem to be religious, 
and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, 
this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled 






470 


TIIE BIBLICAL READEiU 


before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless 
and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspot- 
. ted from the world. 

What doth it profit, though a man say he hath 
faith, and have not works ? can faith save him ? 
If a brother or sister be naked, and destit ute of daily 
food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be 
you warmed and filled ; notwithstanding ye give them 
not those things which are needful to the body ; what 
doth it profit ? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is 
dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, 
and I have works : show me thy faith without thy works, 
and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou be-* 
lievest that there is one God ; thou doest well; the devils 
also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain 
man, that faith without works is dead ? Was not Abraham 
our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his 
son upon the altar ? Seest thou how faith wrought with 
his works, and by works was faith made perfect ? 

And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham 
believed God ; and it was imputed unto him for righte¬ 
ousness : and he was called the Friend of God. 


Concluding Observations. 

The morals and duties inculcated in the last three chapters, and in¬ 
deed through the Sacred Scriptures, show the value of the Inspired 
Volume, and urge upon the mind of rational beings the importance 
of listening to its counsels and obeying its divine commands. We 
cannot close our Observations more appropriately than by quoting the 
following opinion of the late learned Sir William Jones, in the last leaf 
of whose Bible were written these words : “ I have regularly and at¬ 
tentively read these holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this vol¬ 
ume, independently of its divine origin, contains more simplicity 
and beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer 
strains of poetry and eloquence than can be collected from all other 
books , in rchatever age or language they may have been composed 



THE DISCOURSES OF JESUS, 

Arranged in a Chronological order , and the names of the Places 

where they were delivered. 


Conversation with Nicodemus, 
Conversation with the Woman of Samaria, 
Discourse in the Synagogue of Nazareth, 
Sermon upon the Mount, 

Instructions to the Apostles, - 
Denunciations against Chorazin, &c. 


of 


healing 


the infirm Man at 


PLACES. 

Jerusalem. 

Sychur. 

Nazareth. 

Nazareth. 

Galilee. 

Galilee. 

Jerusalem 


Discourse on occasion 
Bethesda, 

Discourse concerning the Disciples plucking Ears of 

Corn on the Sabbath,.Judea. 

Refutation of his working Miracles by the agency of 

Beelzebub, * Capernaum. 

Discourse on the Bread of Life, - Capernaum. 

Discourse about internal Purity, .... Capernaum. 

Discourse against giving or taking Offence, and concern¬ 
ing forgiveness of Injuries, .... Capernaum. 

Discourse at the Feast of Tabernacles, - - Jerusalem. 

Discourse on occasion of the Woman taken in Adultery, Jerusalem. 
Discourse concerning the Sheep, - - - - Jerusalem. 

Denunciations against the Scribes and Phaiisees, - Pertea. 

Discourse concerning Humility and Prudence, - Galilee. 

Directions how to attain Heaven, .... Peraa. 

Discourse concerning his Sufferings, ... Jerusalem 

Denunciations against the Pharisees, ... Jerusalem. 

Prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, - - Jerusalem. 

The consolatory Discourse, ----- Jerusalem. 

Discourse as he went to Gethsemane, ... Jerusalem. 

Discourse to the Disciples before his Ascension, - Jerusalem. 


THE PARABLES OF JESUS, 

Arranged in Chronological order , and the names of the Places 


to here they were delivered. 

Parable of the Sower, ..... 

PLACES. 

Capernaum. 

u 

Tares,. 

Capernaum. 

u 

Seed springing up imperceptibly, 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

u 

Grain of Mustard Seed, 

u 

Leaven, ..... 

Capernaum. 

t* 

Found Treasure, .... 

Capernaum, 

a 

Precious Pearl, .... 

Capernaum. 

a 

Net, - - - 

Capernaum. 

« 

Two Debtors, .... 

Capernaum. 

« 

Samaritans, - - - - - 

near Jericho. 

a 

Rich Glutton, - 

Galilee. 

tc 

i 

Servants who waited for their Lord, 

Galilee. 

«< 

Barren fig-tree, B 

Galilee, 




4 72 . 


MIRACLES OF CHRIST. 

>le of the Lost Sheep, ----- 

Galilee: 

U 

Lost piece of Money, 


Galilee. 

U 

Prodigal Son, 

- 

Galilee. 

C6 

Dishonest Steward, 

- 

Galilee. 

« 

,-Tlch Man and Lazarus, 

- 

Galilee. 

il 

.Unjust. Judge, 

Pharisee and Publican, 

- 

Pesea. 

or 

* - 

• • 

Percea. 

u 

• Labourers in the Vineyard, 

- 

Peraea. 


Pounds, ... 

■ - 

Jericho. 

a 

.Two Sons, - 

Vineyard, *•- 

- 

Jerusalem. 

it 


Jerusalem. 

ii 

Marriage FeSst, 

* 

Jerusalem. 

ii 

Ton Virgins, - 

- 

Jerusalem. 

ii 

Tplents, ... 

• 

Jerusalem. 

ii 

Sheep and the Goats, 

• 

Jerusalem. 

V* 


■Arranged 


m 


THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST, 

Chronological order , and the names of the Places 
where they icerc wrought. 


a 

it 


ti 

<c 


Cl 

ll 


%■ 


.If 
■f • ll 

u 


« V 


u 

Cl 

ll 

ll 

ll 

ti 

ii. 

it 

u 

n 

ii 


it 

n 

u 

ii 

u 

ii 


Jesus turns Water into Wine, ... 

Cures the Nobleman’s Son of Capernaum, 
Causes a miraculous Draught of Fishes, 

Cures a Demoniac, - 
Heo'3 Peter’s Wife’s mother of a Fever, 

Heals a Leper, 

Heals the Centurion’s Servant, 

Calms the Tempest, 'V 
Cures the Demoniacs of Q^dara, 

Cures a Man of the Palsy/* 

Restores to Life the Daugufer of Jairus 
Cures a Woman diseased with a Flux of Blood, 
“ Restores to Sight two blind Men, 

Heals one possessed wfith a Dumb Spirit, 

Cures an infirm Man at Betliesda, 

Cures a Man with arv/ithered Hand, 

Cures a Demoniac, - 

Feeds miraculously Five Thousand, 

Heals the Woman of CanaanJs Daughter, 
Heals a Man who was dumb and deaf, 

Feeds miraculously Four Thousand, 

Gives sight to a Blind'Man, ... 

Cures an Epileptic Boy, ... 

Restores to sight a Man born Blind, 

Heals a Woman under an infirmity Eighteen 

Years,. 

Cures a Dropsy,. 

Cleanses Ten Lepers, ... 

Raises Lazarus from the Dead, - 
Restores to Sight Two Blind Men," - 
Blasts the Fig tree, - 
Heals the Ear of Mdlchus, 

Causes the miraculous Draught of Fishes* 


PLACES. 

Cana. 

Cana. 

Sea of Galilee. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Sea of Galileef. 

Gadara. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Capernaum. 

Jerusalem. 

Judea. 

Capernaum, 

Decapolis. 

near Tyre. 

Decapolis. 

Decapolis. 

Bethsaida. 

Tabor., 

Jerusalem. 

Galilee. 

Galilee. 

Samaria. 

Bethany. 

Jericho. 

Olivet. 

Gethsemane. * 

£ea of Galilei, 









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